Finding into death of Baby L

1y · Female·Unascertained - cardiac arrest with brain swelling; neuropathology demonstrated laceration to corpus callosum and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Baby L, a 20-month-old Aboriginal child, collapsed at home on 6 October 2018 and died at the Royal Children's Hospital on 7 October 2018. She had presented with cough, vomiting and lethargy in the days preceding her collapse. Despite comprehensive post-mortem examination and ancillary investigations, the cause of death remains unascertained. Neuropathology revealed brain trauma (laceration to corpus callosum) with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, but whether this resulted from accidental trauma, non-accidental injury, or natural disease could not be determined. The coroner found no proximate causal connection between previously documented bruising and the fatal event. The coroner commended child protection and day care centre staff for diligent identification and reporting of concerns.