Inquest into the Death of Baby W

Inquest into the Death of BABY W

Delivered on : 19 December 2014

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Vicker

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : s.237(2) Children and Community Services Act 2004

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased was a nine weeks and six days of age, Aboriginal boy at the time of his death. The deceased was in the care of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and lived with his foster carer.

A mandatory inquest was required to examine and comment on the quality of the supervision, treatment and care of the deceased while in the care of the Department.

The Coroner found the deceased was provided with a happy, responsive, loving and nurturing environment. His placement was culturally appropriate and he was seen to respond well to that environment by his continued appropriate development for age and more settled sleep patterns

On the evening of 24 September 2011 the deceased’s carer fed him and noticed that he had a slight runny nose, she gave him a dose of children’s Panadol before putting him to sleep. The deceased was wrapped in his snuggle blanket and fell asleep in his carers arms. He was then placed on his tummy with his face turned to the left in his bassinet in his snuggle blanket.

The next morning the deceased’s carer located him in his bassinet deceased. All relevant services were contact to assist and the death was reported.

The Coroner found the deceased died on 24 September 2011 but was not able to determine the cause of his death. The Coroner made an Open Finding as to how death arose and reminded those providing care to babies of the need to follow safe sleep practices for sleeping babies.

Catch Words : DCP : Sudden unexplained death in infants : Risk factors : Environmental Issues

Last updated: 5-Feb-2024

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Inquest Finding (PDF)