Rozalia Spadafora’s mother described her daughter as a fun and energetic girl who loved football. Photo: Supplied.
The inquest into the death of a five-year-old girl is on track to hold its hearings later this year, although an issue with identifying the author of a relevant sticky note has been flagged.
A coronial inquest is focusing on Rozalia Spadafora, who died at the Canberra Hospital on 5 July 2022, the day after her fifth birthday.
Her parents were told she died from a heart condition, myocarditis, as a result of her influenza A infection.
ACT Coroner Ken Archer has previously set 25 to 31 October as dates for the inquest’s hearings. On Wednesday (28 June), he confirmed he was sticking to this timetable during a directions hearing for the matter.
The lawyer for Rozalia’s family, Bill McCarthy, told the court that a statement would be provided for the inquest from her mother, Katrina Spadafora.
Mr McCarthy also said that on the last occasion the inquest was mentioned in court, a matter was raised regarding the handwriting on a sticky note.
He said there were issues about identifying whose writing it was and asked if there was any update on this.
The counsel assisting the coroner, Michael Fordham SC, said the ACT Government lawyers had provided statements on the issue and the inquest was trying to find out whose handwriting it was.
While it couldn’t be confirmed who it was for now, it could only have been a small number of people.
Mr Fordham also said the inquest was not particularly interested in vilifying an individual and was looking at the system as a whole.
In other developments, he said the government lawyers had done an extraordinary amount of work, although some statements were still outstanding.
The court heard there had been an external review of the paediatric emergency department services in general at the hospital, which was conducted before Rozalia’s death and would be referred to for the inquest.
Coroner Archer asked if reviews had considered the specifics of this case or were on general issues of paediatric care. The lawyer for the ACT replied that the reviews were of a general nature.
Mr Fordham said it would be of assistance to the coroner to find out if there had been changes since Rozalia died.
The ACT’s lawyer said a doctor would address the changes in the emergency department that were referrable to her death.
Coroner Archer ultimately ordered the outstanding statements be filed next month, the witness list, issues list and brief of evidence to be distributed in August, then adjourned for the start of the inquest hearings in October.
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