Coronial
VIChospital

Kaseybellastarrgower moyle 453809

Deceased

KASEY BELLA STARR GOWER-MOYLE

Demographics

0y, female

Date of death

2009-09-18

Finding date

2011-01-20

Cause of death

Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Type 1

AI-generated summary

Kasey Gower-Moyle was born in September 2008 and diagnosed with terminal spinal muscular atrophy type 1 in March 2009, a severe neuromuscular disorder. From April 2009, she received 24-hour inpatient palliative care at Royal Children's Hospital, including nasogastric feeding, suctioning, and morphine analgesia. Her parents resided with her but significant tensions developed with medical staff over her care plan, leading to Department of Human Services child protection involvement. In August 2009, her parents attempted to discharge her home, resulting in an Interim Accommodation Order returning her to hospital. The coroner found she died of natural causes from her terminal condition on 18 September 2009, whilst appropriately in DHS care. No clinical failures were identified. This case illustrates the importance of clear family-clinician communication and shared decision-making when managing infants with terminal genetic conditions, particularly when parental preferences and medical recommendations conflict.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.

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