Trainee doctor causes three-year-old's death in Birmingham

A three-year-old boy named Aarav Chopra died after a trainee doctor accidentally pierced a major artery during a routine biopsy. This incident occurred on November 22, 2023, leading to serious complications for Aarav, who had previously undergone a liver transplant just months before. Aarav suffered from biliary atresia, a condition that affected his liver. After the transplant, his body rejected the new organ, prompting further tests at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. During a biopsy procedure, the trainee doctor mistakenly inserted a needle incorrectly, causing significant bleeding in Aarav’s chest cavity, which went unnoticed at the time. Despite nearly 30 minutes of resuscitation efforts, Aarav suffered cardiac arrest due to the build-up of blood in his chest. The inquest revealed that there was poor planning for the procedure and inadequate communication among medical staff regarding the complications that arose. The coroner criticized the hospital's handling of the incident and noted that Aarav's parents were not informed that a trainee was performing the procedure. They expressed anger at the lack of transparency from the hospital and stated that their trust had been shattered. They are now pursuing legal action against the hospital. In response, the hospital's Chief Medical Officer expressed regret over the inadequate care provided to Aarav and stated that changes have been made to improve patient safety. Aarav's family hopes that by sharing their story, they can prevent similar tragedies in the future.