Coroner finds congenital heart defect caused death of Queensland newborn

A coroner has determined that a baby girl's death at a south-east Queensland hospital in 2023 resulted from an undiagnosed congenital heart condition, not from deficiencies in post-delivery care.

Thea Flaskett died four hours after being born via vacuum-assisted delivery at Redcliffe Hospital in September 2023. Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher's findings, published on Monday, identified Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) — a serious cardiac abnormality where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed — as the cause of death.

Medical condition deemed unsurvivable

The autopsy revealed that Thea's condition was compounded by additional factors that made her situation unsurvivable. Coroner Gallagher ruled that the combination of TGA and these contributing factors rendered the condition fatal, regardless of the standard of care provided.

"It was not the standard of her post-delivery care" that caused her death, the coroner found, with all staff involved in Thea's care "did everything they could" for the newborn.

Parents' concerns prompted formal investigation

Thea's parents, James and Meg Flaskett, had raised concerns about their daughter's care at the Redcliffe Hospital following her death, prompting a formal inquest held in Brisbane. The inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the infant's four-hour survival and whether hospital staff responded appropriately to her deteriorating condition.

The case is significant in Queensland's maternal and neonatal health landscape, particularly regarding early detection of congenital heart conditions in newborns. While prenatal screening can identify some cardiac abnormalities, TGA can be difficult to detect before birth and may not present symptoms immediately after delivery.

Understanding Transposition of the Great Arteries

TGA is one of the more complex congenital heart defects, affecting approximately one in 3,000 to 5,000 live births. The condition requires urgent intervention after birth, typically involving prostaglandin medication to keep the ductus arteriosus open and facilitate blood mixing between the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Definitive treatment involves surgical correction.

The coroner's findings provide closure for the Flaskett family while affirming that hospital staff demonstrated appropriate clinical judgment and care during Thea's brief life.

Source

Originally published by ABC News (20 July 2026)