Key Takeaways:
- Eden Rapana-Campbell, a 19-year-old with a history of kidney disease, died at Middlemore Hospital after being left in the emergency department hallway and not receiving timely care.
- Her mother, Kiri Campbell, claims that hospital staff physically pushed Eden and told her to calm down when she complained of pain, which the hospital denies.
- Campbell is seeking answers and accountability, and has requested documents and video footage from the hospital to determine if her daughter’s death was preventable.
- Campbell is also advocating for changes to the standard of care for high-needs patients in emergency departments, and has drafted a proposal for a new law, "Eden’s Law", which would ensure consistent monitoring, escalation, and whānau inclusion for high-risk patients.
- The hospital has initiated two reviews into Eden’s death, and has offered condolences to the family, but Campbell remains critical of the care her daughter received.
Introduction to the Tragic Event
The death of 19-year-old Eden Rapana-Campbell at Middlemore Hospital has sparked a desperate search for answers and accountability from her mother, Kiri Campbell. Eden, who had a history of kidney disease, was rushed to the hospital on August 12, but her mother claims that she was left in the emergency department hallway and did not receive the timely care she needed. Campbell, who was on a video call with her daughter at the time, alleges that a staff member physically pushed Eden and told her to calm down when she complained of pain, a claim that the hospital denies.
The Hospital’s Response
Middlemore Hospital has initiated two reviews into Eden’s death, and has offered condolences to the family. Dr. Vanessa Thornton, the group director of operations at Counties Manukau, stated that Eden’s condition was immediately recognized as serious, and that she was monitored while in the hospital’s care. However, Campbell remains critical of the care her daughter received, and is seeking answers about whether her death was preventable. The hospital has also denied that Eden was physically assaulted while in their care, but Campbell is determined to get to the truth.
Eden’s Medical History
Eden was born with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder that can lead to significant health problems. Despite being told she would not live past the age of one, Eden defied the odds and lived a full life, training as a barista and dreaming of opening her own cafe. However, at the age of 18, she developed end-stage renal failure, and required dialysis three times a week. Her mother moved her from Hamilton to Auckland in the hopes of getting her a kidney transplant, but tragically, Eden lost her health battle six months after a near-death experience in February.
The Video Call
Campbell was on a video call with her daughter when she arrived at the hospital, and alleges that she saw Eden deteriorate in front of her eyes. She claims that Eden was left in the hallway and not offered a cubicle, despite being well-known to the hospital staff due to her regular visits for dialysis treatment. Campbell also alleges that when Eden complained of pain, a staff member physically pushed her and told her to calm down, which the hospital denies. The video call ended with Eden saying "I love you mum" and collapsing, never to recover.
Eden’s Law
Campbell is not only seeking answers about her daughter’s death, but is also advocating for changes to the standard of care for high-needs patients in emergency departments. She has drafted a proposal for a new law, "Eden’s Law", which would ensure consistent monitoring, escalation, and whānau inclusion for high-risk patients. Campbell believes that if the same protocols that were followed during Eden’s earlier near-death experience had been followed on August 12, her daughter may still be alive. She is determined to make a difference and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Conclusion
The death of Eden Rapana-Campbell is a tragic reminder of the importance of providing timely and appropriate care to high-needs patients in emergency departments. Kiri Campbell’s search for answers and accountability is a testament to the love and devotion of a mother who will stop at nothing to ensure that her daughter’s death is not in vain. As the hospital’s reviews into Eden’s death continue, Campbell remains hopeful that her advocacy will lead to changes that will prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. With the proposed "Eden’s Law", Campbell aims to create a lasting legacy for her daughter, and to ensure that no other family has to go through the same pain and heartache that she has endured.