Mum's fight for answers after suspended Cambridge surgeon's care on son
An inquest into Jack Moate's death is due to be opened
A mum whose nine-year-old son died after being treated by a Cambridge surgeon tells us she's not giving up her fight for answers.
Jack Moate spent almost eight hours in surgery for a hip operation by Kuldeep Stohr - who's since been suspended - before he died in November 2015.
Jack's operation took place in September of that year at Addenbrooke's Hospital where Ms Stohr was working as an orthopaedic consultant specialising in children.
"I have lived with so many 'what ifs'; every day is horrible, knowing I'm having to relive his last moments pretty much all the time," Elizabeth Moate, Jack's mum, said.
Answers will help families 'move forward'
Jack lived with several complex medical needs and had limited mobility.
Ms Moate said her son had epilepsy and was largely wheelchair bound, although he could sit independently and unaided on the floor without any back support.
An inquest into Jack's death is due to open today (Tuesday), which Ms Moate hopes can be the start of getting justice for her son.
"We all need these answers to be able to move forward and without answers, I don't think I will be able to move forward so I'm hoping she (Ms Stohr) will give the answers so everyone can find some peace," she said.
Last month, a letter from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) to Ms Moate said an independent clinical expert who reviewed Jack's care found "there was evidence that fatal physical harm was caused".
Jack suffered "significant blood loss" in a procedure which left his right hip wrongly aligned and his left hip unstable and unhealed.
Ms Moate said she was concerned about him undergoing surgery due to his complex conditions and as he was highly susceptible to infections.
"It's almost impossible (to find answers) because once you've been given a report and they say 'it's a fatal outcome', they then say nothing so there's no questions as to why things were done the way they were done," she said.
"We have a lot of unanswered questions, such as why x-rays weren't done and why the surgery was as poor as it was."
Jack's case was reviewed as part of a wider external clinical review commissioned by CUH last year into the practice of Ms Stohr amid concerns about care that was "below the expected standard".
His cause of death was recorded at the time as deep vein thrombosis, cerebral palsy alongside epilepsy.
Campaign for Jack
When asked what else she wants to achieve from the inquest, Ms Moate wants Ms Stohr's medical licence "completely revoked".
She also wants to set up a campaign in Jack's name so other families don't go through the same experience to what she has.
"I am his voice, I've always been his voice and continue to be his voice until I get answers, and also to see proper change at Addenbrooke's so this never happens again," Ms Moate added.
In a statement last month, Dr Sue Broster, chief medical officer at CUH, said: "On behalf of the trust, I offer my unreserved apologies for the failings in Jack's care.
"Our thoughts remain with his family, and we are doing everything we can to support them at this extremely difficult time."
A separate independent review highlighted how an external clinical review in 2016 raised concerns about Ms Stohr's surgical technique and judgment, but it was "misunderstood" and opportunities to act on the findings were "missed".