‘I May Not Have Australian Accent But…’: Toddler Of Indian-Origin Couple Dies In Hospital After Blood Test Refusal

The death of a toddler has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in Australia after it was found that the tragic passing away of the 21-month-old could have been avoided.

Sandipan Dhar, from the northern Perth suburb of Joondalup, succumbed to leukemia on March 24. Before his tragic demise, his parents — Sanjoy and Saraswati Dhar — first took him to the Key Largo Medical Centre GP practice as he was battling a persistent fever. Despite several visits, their request for a blood test was met with refusal.

Doctors reportedly assured them that no further tests were necessary and advised monitoring Sandipan at home. “It was hard for us to identify any other diseases because he never cried out, he never had any sort of pains,” Sandipan’s father was quoted as saying by ABC News.

‘Completely fine’

“We were not satisfied with his treatment, so we went to the hospital straight from the medical center,” Dhar said, describing their escalating frustrations as Sandipan’s condition worsened despite medical intervention. Their concerns were further compounded when they were turned away by hospital staff who deemed Sandipan “completely fine” on March 22, despite the persistence of his symptoms.

Questions about the adequacy of care and the handling of the situation have emerged after the tragic death of the toddler. Western Australia’s Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson acknowledged the family’s distress, saying, “It’s certainly the case that the family feels they weren’t heard.” Ramsay Health Care, responsible for Joondalup Health Campus, acknowledged a communication disconnect but maintained that the care provided was appropriate.

Dr. Shane Kelly, Ramsay’s state manager, highlighted the need to reconcile differing perceptions between staff and the Dhar family. However, Sanjoy Dhar disputed any language barriers, asserting that effective communication should transcend accents. “I may not have an Australian accent … but I think that English is enough to communicate,” Mr. Dhar said, addressing concerns about potential language barriers.  “The system failed us, and we need to ensure that no other family experiences such a tragedy,” he added.