New blood test results presented at an inquest have confirmed that a 12-year-old girl who died in a psychiatric unit was suffering from a treatable brain disorder. The evidence, revealed today at Sheffield Coroner's Court, led an expert neurologist to change his assessment of Mia Lucas's condition from "possible" to "definitive."
Professor Marta Cohen, a pathologist, told the court that Mia died from «compression of the neck» caused by «acute psychosis» caused by «autoimmune encephalitis». The newly analyzed blood samples provided conclusive proof of the inflammatory brain condition. Professor Cohen said: «I think it provides an answer to the family and a learning to all of us.»
Mia's mother, Chloe Lucas, burst into tears as the new evidence was presented to the jury.
Dr. Mike Taylor, a consultant paediatric neurologist who conducted an independent review for the coroner, had earlier told the inquest that autoimmune encephalitis was «possible» or «probable» in Mia's case. After seeing Professor Cohen's new blood test results, he was recalled to the witness box and confirmed the diagnosis was now «definitive».
Timeline of events
Mia was taken to the emergency department of Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on December 31, 2023, after exhibiting extreme behavior including attempting to get knives, fighting her mother, hearing voices and hallucinating. She was sectioned under the Mental Health Act on January 4 following an assessment that found she was suffering an «acute psychotic episode».
Doctors in Nottingham decided there was no underlying physical cause for her psychosis. Mia was transferred to the Becton Centre for Children and Young People in Sheffield on January 9. She was found unresponsive in her room on January 29, 2024, and pronounced dead the following day.
Medical assessment
Dr. Taylor told the inquest it was «quite concerning» that further diagnostic tests like a lumbar puncture and an EEG were not obtained at Queen's Medical Centre. However, he acknowledged the difficulties faced by clinicians in identifying such a «complex and rare presentation which is very difficult for clinicians to pick up».
He noted that treatments for autoimmune encephalitis carry severe side effects, including risk of death. Treating Mia for the condition at the Nottingham hospital based on the evidence available at the time could have «caused her significant harm», he said. Dr. Taylor stated it was «not unreasonable» for the medical team to have a low suspicion level for the rare disorder.
Mia had contracted a virus in December 2023, a known though very rare trigger for autoimmune encephalitis. The inflammatory brain condition can cause extreme psychiatric symptoms and is treatable. Extreme psychosis is very rare in 12-year-old children.
The inquest jury is expected to retire to consider their verdicts later this week.
Anyone finding life difficult can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email [email protected].
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
