Family who heard staff laughing as son taken off life support given ‘poor bereavement care’
A family who said they could hear hospital staff laughing in a nearby room as their son was taken off life support were given “poor bereavement” care, an investigation has found.
Five-year-old Muhammad Ayaan Haroon, known as Ayaan, died at Sheffield Children’s Hospital on 13 March 2023.
He had a history of respiratory problems and a rare genetic condition called Hace 1.
His father Haroon Rashid complained of a “catalogue of catastrophic errors” in his son’s care which he believes “cost Ayaan his life”.
A draft report into the boy’s death by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting found some of Ayaan’s care did not meet the expected standards.
It concluded some changes may have marginally increased his chances of survival but were ultimately unlikely to have changed the outcome.
Mr Rashid said his family “simply can’t trust this report” and has called for a second investigation.
He said: “Although it’s very critical of the care my son received, the main thing for us as a family is despite it saying his care was mismanaged, it still says the outcome would not have changed. We as a family can’t accept that.
“The way I see it there was a catalogue of catastrophic errors that were made… that cost him his life.
“We want a second investigation, for the truth and for the report to reflect the true care that my son received. Our ultimate goal is for genuine lessons to be learned.”
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Pic: PA
‘Substantially inadequate’ cultural sensitivity
The draft report said Ayaan’s family were given “poor” bereavement care and the cultural sensitivity shown after his death was “substantially inadequate,” which “undoubtedly added to the trauma of the family”.
It said staff did not find out if there were any specific cultural wishes of the family when performing Ayaan’s last rights and in the management of his body.
Investigators found aspects of Ayaan’s care did not meet standards, including the fact he should have been started on high flow oxygen therapy sooner, as well as a four-hour delay in admitting him to the paediatric intensive care unit because of bed and staff capacity issues.
The family had complained they could hear staff laughing in a nearby room during Ayaan’s final moments, and the report said the unit was so busy there was no side room available “to support a private dignified death which, while unavoidable, added to the family’s distress”.
‘Sincere condolences’
An NHS South Yorkshire spokesperson said: “We would again like to offer our sincere condolences to Ayaan’s family for the loss and distress they have experienced.
“We’re continuing to work very closely and support Ayaan’s family and have met with Ayaan’s father to share with him the draft report into Ayaan’s care.
“As this report is still in draft we’re currently at the stage where everyone, most importantly Ayaan’s family, have the opportunity to fully read and provide feedback and comment before the final report is released.”
Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78.
A spokesperson said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family.
“She will be dearly missed.”
Marianne Faithfull in 1995. Pic: Reuters
Faithfull was best known for her 60s hit As Tears Go By, written by The Rolling Stones’ Jagger and Keith Richards.
She also starred in films including The Girl on a Motorcycle and 2007’s Irina Palm, for which she was nominated for a European Film Award for Best Actress.
In recent years, she provided voice work for the 2021 remake of Dune and 2023’s Wild Summon.
Faithfull in The Girl on a Motorcycle. Pic: Mid-Atlantic/Ares/Claridge/Kobal/Shutterstock
Born in 1946, Faithfull started her singing career in 1964 after being discovered by the Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
Her self-titled debut album was released a year later, with As Tears Go By reaching number nine on the UK singles chart.
She went on to have a string of successful singles, including Come and Stay with Me, This Little Bird, and Summer Nights, and famously dated Sir Mick from 1966 to 1970.
Faithfull was prolific throughout the 60s, releasing six albums – some only in the UK and some for the US – as well as contributing backing vocals to the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and inspiring the Stones’ Sympathy For The Devil.
That decade also saw her star in films like 1967’s I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname – where she was one of the first people to say f*** in a mainstream studio film – 1968’s The Girl on a Motorcycle, and Tony Richardson’s 1969 adaptation of Hamlet.
Her relationship with Sir Mick was notorious, with the couple being arrested in 1968 for possession of cannabis.
She was also infamously found by police wearing only a bear skin rug when they arrived for a drugs raid at Richard’s home in 1967.
Faithfull and Mick Jagger dated from 1966 to 1970. Pic: Shutterstock
After breaking up with the Stones frontman, Faithfull spent two years homeless in Soho while suffering from anorexia and heroin addiction, before she started living in a squat.
She wrote in her 1994 autobiography: “For me, being a junkie was an admirable life. It was total anonymity, something I hadn’t known since I was 17.
“As a street addict in London, I finally found it. I had no telephone, no address.”
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In 1979, following success in Ireland with the country-themed Dreamin’ My Dreams, Faithfull released the Grammy-nominated Broken English – widely considered her best album.
She later achieved critical acclaim as a jazz and blues singer with 1987’s Strange Weather and went to rehab that same decade.
Faithfull performing in Montreux, Switzerland, in 2009. Pic: Jean-Christophe Bott/EPA/Shutterstock
Faithfull released a total of 21 solo albums throughout her career. Her most recent was the spoken word album She Walks in Beauty from 2021, which saw her work with frequent Nick Cave collaborator Warren Ellis.
She made a full recovery from breast cancer in 2006, and fell into a coma after catching COVID-19 early in 2020 before recovering.
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