Inquest into the death of Shareya Shannon

5y · Female·Pneumonia as a complication of septo-optic cerebral dysplasia

Shareya Shannon was a 5-year-old Aboriginal girl with septo-optic dysplasia, a rare congenital brain malformation causing profound developmental delay, spastic quadriparesis, poorly controlled epilepsy, hearing and visual impairment, and diabetes insipidus. She was in state care under joint guardianship from age 10 months. Over 18 months prior to death, she experienced recurrent chest infections with increasing frequency. She was admitted to Alice Springs Hospital on 15 February 2005 with respiratory infection and pneumonia. Despite antibiotic therapy, her condition deteriorated with ventilatory failure evident on blood gases. A do-not-resuscitate decision had been made jointly by family and carers. She died 26 February 2005 from pneumonia complicated by her underlying condition. The coroner found no deficiencies in her care; she was well-loved and appropriately managed.