A grieving daughter's relentless pursuit of the truth has exposed a catastrophic failure in medical care after a coroner found that her mother's death was contributed to by neglect.
Valerie Kneale, a 58-year-old mother from the Isle of Man, died in November 2022 after what Coroner of Inquests James Brooks labelled a 'gross failure' to provide basic medical attention. Her family's nightmare began when she was sent home from Noble's Hospital despite showing clear signs of a severe infection.
A Daughter's Fight for Justice
Valerie's daughter, Chloe Kneale, became her mother's fiercest advocate, meticulously documenting her decline and challenging medical dismissals. She described the harrowing experience of watching her mother's condition deteriorate while feeling her concerns were being ignored by professionals.
"I knew something was seriously wrong," Chloe stated during the inquest. "I kept telling them she was deteriorating, that it wasn't just a chest infection. I felt like I was screaming into a void."
The Critical Failures
The inquest heard a damning sequence of errors:
- Missed Sepsis Diagnosis: Medical staff failed to recognise and act upon clear signs of sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
- Inadequate Examination: Valerie was not properly examined upon her initial presentation at the hospital.
- Poor Communication: A critical lack of communication between medical teams meant her deteriorating condition was not escalated.
Coroner Brooks concluded that had she received the appropriate care and treatment, her death would have been avoided. He is now preparing a report to prevent future deaths, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.
A Family's Heartbreak and a System's Lesson
The Kneale family's tragedy is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of medical error. While the coroner's verdict provides long-awaited validation, it comes with immense pain.
"This verdict doesn't bring my mum back, but I hope it means another family won't have to go through what we did," said Chloe. Her courage in challenging the authorities ensures her mother's legacy will be one of change, potentially saving countless lives in the future.
