Boy’s family accuse hospital staff of laughing while his life support was turned off

The family of a five-year-old boy who accused hospital staff of laughing nearby as their son was removed from life support have criticised an investigation into his death after a catalogue of errors” in his care.

- HOLLY EVANS

Muhammad Ayaan Haroon, who was known as Ayaan, died on 13 March 2023 at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, eight days after he was admitted with breathing problems.

Following complaints from his family, a draft report by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting found that his family were given “poor bereavement care” and shown “substantially inadequate” cultural sensitivity by an NHS trust.

While it found that some of his care did not meet the expected standard and made 15 recommendations, it also concluded that while changes may have marginally increased his chances of survival, they were ultimately unlikely to have changed the outcome.

Speaking to The Independent, his father Haroon Rashid, 42, said: “We see this as a cover-up. How can you criticise every element of his care and the many aspects of concern and say the outcome would not have changed?”

These changes included an earlier escalation to intensive care, the earlier insertion of a chest drain and earlier intubation to treat Ayaan, who had a history of respiratory problems and a rare genetic condition called Hace1.

The family is now calling for a second investigation, adding: “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.”

Among their complaints against NHS Sheffield Children’s Hospital is that Ayaan was taken to the morgue in a soiled nappy, and that staff there had not liaised with funeral directors before releasing his body, compounding their distress.