Death of Amrita Lanka among spate of cases that have led to calls for urgent investigation

Amrita Lanka, 8, died after being rushed to emergency in Melbourne — but her family says she should still be alive.

Amrita Lanka died one day after she was taken to the emergency department with suspected appendicitis.

The grieving father of an eight-year-old girl whose treatment at a Melbourne hospital is under review says she should still be alive.

Amrita Lanka died at Monash Children’s Hospital on April 30 this year, a day after her parents rushed her to the emergency department with suspected appendicitis.

Hers is among a recent spate of cases that have led senior doctors to call for a review of the state’s paediatric emergency care.

Then Victorian health minister Martin Foley confirmed earlier this year that her death had been referred to the Coroner.

Amrita and her dad Chandra Lanka.

Amrita with her mum Satya Tarapureddi.

Chandra Lanka said it had been more than five months since he and his wife Satya Tarapureddi lost their daughter and they “miss her everyday”.

“We cry every day and we have been inflicted this misery,” he said.

“Our repeated pleas throughout the night, they did not hear us.”

He said Amrita, who was in grade three, was a kind-hearted “chatterbox”.

Amrita Lanka’s death has been referred to the Coroner.

“Now it’s dead silent at home,” he said.

“We are missing her everyday chats.

“She was an animal lover … and into arts.

“She was absolutely kind to everyone.”

He said they visited her grave a week after her death and were surprised to see a family they did not recognise, only to learn that Amrita had helped out their young son.

“He was struggling to do certain things and she stepped in and helped him,” he said.

“Everyone has their own good memories with Amrita.

“She always used to help out her friends.”

He was saddened to learn his daughter was not the only child in Victoria whose death had prompted calls for a review.

“Any child is a blessing to their parents,” he said.

“This is not supposed to happen.

“Amrita was not supposed to die.

“No child in Amrita’s place was supposed to die.”