Grieving mum claims her partner would still be alive if doctors had tested him as requested
A FATHER of two died of a ruptured brain aneurysm after a fall while spray painting — and the Ferntree Gully man’s grieving partner claims he would still be alive if doctors had not repeatedly misdiagnosed his symptoms.
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A GRIEVING mum claims her partner, the father of her two sons, would still be alive after hitting his head in a fall if doctors had not repeatedly misdiagnosed his symptoms.
Richard Birch, 38, of Ferntree Gully, collapsed and died of a ruptured brain aneurysm almost a month after a GP allegedly gave him a Panadol and failed to arrange a brain scan, despite the family’s pleas.
Mr Birch went to a medical clinic in Croydon complaining of constant headaches, vomiting, nausea and aversion to light after falling and hitting his head on a wall while spray painting on July 25, 2014.
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His partner, Carlie White, said Mr Birch was told by two GPs over repeated visits that his symptoms were caused by sinus pain, then a migraine — he had no history of any headaches — and then anxiety.
“These were not your average headache symptoms,” Ms White said. “We really can’t understand why they didn’t do more testing or send Richard for tests. But we trusted them.”
Senior Slater and Gordon lawyer Anne Shortall claimed that had the GPs referred Mr Birch to a hospital for tests, as the family requested, the aneurysm would have treated: “Richard (allegedly) would not have died if these tests had been conducted and his family would not have had to endure such tragic circumstances.”
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According to a writ filed in the Supreme Court, the two GPs also failed to obtain a detailed medical history and consider alternative causes such as traumatic brain injury.
On August 19, 2014, on his sixth visit to the clinic, Mr Birch was diagnosed with hypertension and alcohol excess.
Two hours after leaving the centre, he collapsed at home and was rushed by ambulance to The Alfred hospital.
A CT spine cervical scan allegedly revealed he had suffered a ruptured right middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm.
Despite doctors’ efforts, he did not regain consciousness and died on August 22.
“I was home when he collapsed, it was awful,” Ms White said.
“When the ambulance arrived, they said it was a head injury as soon as they arrived.
“Since his death it just been awful for the boys, and we still can’t come to terms with it. I wouldn’t wish this up my worst enemy.
“This has been something we will never get past, knowing it could have been prevented and having the boys grow up without their father during such an important part of their lives.”
Ms White urged anyone who was not satisfied with a doctor’s diagnosis to get a second or even third opinion until they were satisfied.
“Our family has unfortunately lost all trust in the very doctors that are there to help us. Even though there are some good doctors out there, we find it hard to trust any of them and always second guess every diagnosis,” she said.
She and her teenage sons are seeking unspecified damages for psychological injuries, pain and suffering and loss of earning capacity.