Aarav Chopra, who was three years old, died on November 22, 2023, from a prolonged cardiac arrest caused by a buildup of blood in his chest cavity after a trainee medic punctured his artery during the biopsy, according to an inquest. Aarav had serious liver disease and had undergone a liver transplant months earlier, but his body rejected the new liver organ, the inquest heard. He was sent for testing at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where doctors ordered a liver biopsy.
During the surgery, a trainee doctor nicked a major artery with a needle, the inquest was told. Aarav died of serious brain damage as doctors spent nearly 30 minutes trying to resuscitate him, the inquest heard. An inquest into Aarav's death heard the bleed went undiagnosed and untreated as the biopsy was carried out.
Aarav was the most adorable little boy and despite everything he went through with his transplant was always smiling and happy.
Birmingham's Senior Coroner Louise Hunt blasted poor planning by staff before the procedure, according to the inquest. The coroner's report said there was poor communication about the bleed Aarav suffered, all of which hampered treatment after his collapse, the inquest heard. The coroner noted there was confusion around the experience of the trainee doctor performing the biopsy, the inquest was told.
The trainee was thought to be a year six, but it was later found out he was only in year four of his training, according to the inquest. Aarav's parents weren't told a trainee would be performing the biopsy on their son, the inquest heard. Following the inquest, Aarav's parents Kishore and Amrita instructed solicitors Irwin Mitchell to investigate Aarav's care, according to reports.
He brought sunshine to our lives, and the world is a much darker place without him. We hoped his transplant would be a new start in life for Aarav. It remains difficult to accept that he went into hospital for what we thought would be a relatively routine biopsy and never came home.
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust have admitted liability and paid an undisclosed payout to the family, the Trust stated. The Trust stated there was a failure to adequately manage Aarav's condition once the buildup of blood was recognised. The Trust said with appropriate care, Aarav's cardiac arrest and death would have been avoided on the balance of probabilities.
In a letter to the couple, the Trust apologised, saying there were failings in our care that contributed to Aarav's death.
There were failings in our care that contributed to Aarav's death.