Investigation into death of newborn who died two days after being discharged from Blackpool Vic may not go ahead

Joseph Calin was born at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on April 17 last year and was discharged the following day. He returned to the hospital on April 19 and died there the next day.

At a hearing at Blackpool town hall today, coroner Alan Wilson said an investigation into his death may not be necessary following a post-mortem examination which found he died of congenital cardiomyopathy - a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart - due to a mitochondrial efficiency defect.

He said: "A post-mortem examination revealed prominent cardiomyopathy, but it was only under microscopic investigation that (the doctor) was able to identify this.

"An independent report was conducted bu the Health and Safety investigation branch, which also got evidence from the hospital Trust, including a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse and a gynecologist.

"Here we have somebody who has been reported, after a detailed investigation and post-mortem, to have died as a result of natural causes. The issue for the court to consider is, even if this death was due to natural causes, was this a preventable death? Based on the information before me at the moment my view is that, although there has been a review of the care that has been provided by the hospital, it doesn't appear to me that an inquest should proceed."

However, he added that Joseph Calin's family, who chose not to attend the hearing, would be consulted before a final decision is made.

"Had his family been here, there would have been an opportunity for them to say their views. It may well be that they have had some things to say that would have affected the outcome," he said. "(The court will) notify the family of the decision and they will have the chance to comment on that decision.

"It seems to me that this is an investigation that ought not to proceed as an inquest, but I will leave that open for now subjected to the views of the family."