Aswath Chavittupara wins Liberal preselection in WA after daughter’s sepsis death

The father of a young girl who died after waiting hours to be seen in hospital has been preselected to run as a Liberal candidate in the current health minister’s seat.

The father of a young girl who died after waiting hours to be seen at Perth Children’s Hospital will be running against West Australian Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson at the next state election.

Aswath Chavittupara won preselection as the Liberal Party candidate in the seat of Morley on Wednesday ahead of the March 2025 poll.

Aishwarya, 7, died at Perth Children's Hospital. Picture: 9News

Mr Chavittupara’s seven-year-old daughter, Aishwarya Aswath, died from sepsis in 2021 after waiting hours to be seen at PCH.

The young girl had presented to the hospital with a 38C fever, cold hands and a limp body.

Mr Chavittupara was selected to campaign against Ms Sanderson over procurement officer and business owner Nirmal Singh.

Aswath Chavittupara has been nominated as a Liberal candidate in Western Australia. Picture: Facebook

His daughter died of sepsis in 2021. Picture: 9 News

Ms Sanderson holds the safe Labor seat with a margin of 28 per cent.

While she was not the minister when Aishwarya died, it’s understood Mr Chavittupara’s campaign will shine a spotlight on the Labor government’s running of its health department.

Aishwarya died from multi-organ failure after a Group A Streptococcal infection turned into sepsis.

She had been waiting at the hospital for 90 minutes.

Aishwarya was initially categorised as a non-urgent patient despite her parents continually raising their concerns about her worsening condition with staff.

A nurse eventually asked a doctor to review the young girl after she became too weak to take ibuprofen by herself, according to the coroner’s report.

She died from “natural causes” 3½ hours after she arrived at the hospital.

Originally published as Aswath Chavittupara wins Liberal preselection in WA after daughter’s sepsis death