A horrifying story out of the United Kingdom has revealed how one mother watched her own child die after doctors refused to give her a feeding tube. The tragic death was described by mother Sarah Boothby-O’Neill as “wholly preventable” during an inquest into the tragedy.
Maeve O’Neill, the daughter and victim at the center of the story, had suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME, since the age of 13. The condition, which causes chronic fatigue, often prevents sufferers from going about their daily lives, making it difficult to complete simple tasks. Sufferers often struggle to maintain focus. It’s the kind of condition that confuses even medical professionals; people don’t understand why people can’t function even after a full night of sleep, and doctors can’t even figure out the cause.
It means that there is no known effective treatment for the condition – but doctors can do things to improve the lives of sufferers. Maeve and her family had sought help for the condition from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, but after what her mother alleges was medical negligence, she later died at home in October 2021.
Speaking to an inquest taking place right now, family members described how Maeve was bedridden, completely unable to eat, and barely responding in the final months of her life. Family members described how she was in need of a “loving hug” in those final months and days but that her condition even made it too difficult to be held.
Here’s what the inquest discovered so far:
- Maeve Boothby O’Neill was admitted a total of three times to the same hospital over a period of six months, but was refused a fourth admission because doctors said that they couldn’t do anything for her.
- According to her mother and full-time carer, consultants at the hospital didn’t try to save her life.
- Family members believe that Maeve’s death was caused by dehydration and a lack of malnutrition – something they say that doctors could have prevented had she been admitted to the hospital.
Yes, It’s Real
The fact that doctors don’t really know how to treat the problem, or what causes the condition, makes sufferers victims of misinformation and bullying. There are, however, many high-profile people who suffer from the condition and who continue their daily lives, come hell or high water.
Among those who suffer from ME is retired footballer Michelle Akers. According to ME-Pedia, a website that documents cases of the condition and provides resources for those who suffer, Akers was diagnosed with the condition – also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – in 1991. Akers responded to the news by changing her field position, her schedule, and even her diet – but nothing worked. Nonetheless, Akers powered through and became a legend in her industry, retiring just before the 2000 Olympic Games because of the condition and various injuries.
Pop legend Justin Bieber is a sufferer, too. The Canadian star’s diagnosis has been widely reported on by the mainstream media. And he’s not the only pop star, either. Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame suffers from exactly the same condition, as does Avril Lavigne, the “Sk8r Boi” singer from the 2000s.
Avant-pop singer Lady Gaga has also spoken out about her struggle with fibromyalgia, a condition that affects the limbs and joints, causing chronic pain and chronic fatigue. The condition isn’t exactly the same, but it bears many similarities.
And it’s not a modern condition, even. Marie Curie, the scientist behind the earliest research on radioactivity, is widely believed to have suffered from the condition – without necessarily even knowing it.
What Happens Next?
The future of the case is obviously uncertain; though the inquest has now ended, the hospital, at this point, still refutes nearly everything the family says. Rhys Hadden, who represents the hospital trust in charge of operations at the facility where Maeve died, said that the accusations are inaccurate.
“We do not accept it,” Hadden said, adding that her death was not as easily preventable as the family suggests.
“The Trust disagrees with the criticism that it failed in its duty of care or missed important opportunities.”
Throughout the inquest, however, Maeve’s father insisted that the hospital took a series of actions throughout her treatment that actually made her condition worse. In a written statement that was read during the inquest, O’Neill argued that the medics at the hospital “did not know what to do” and that his daughter “encountered treatments that made her worse,” including a series of exercise programs, delayed diagnoses, and “ignorance, apathy and stigma.”
In a social media post on Twitter, Maeve’s father, Sean O’Neill, confirmed that an additional hearing will take place on September 27. The next hearing, he said, will consider the possibility of producing a “Prevention of Future Deaths” report – a measure that could outline steps the hospital needs to take to provide better care for patients in the future.
On August 3, Maeve’s mother also confirmed that the inquest had come to a close, and that all witnesses involved with her daughter’s care had made their statements.
The authorities, she said, are not “taking time to reflect on the evidence and refer to relevant inquest law before concluding.”
Devon Coroner’s Court is expected to read the conclusion of the inquest on August 9th, 2024.
