Coroner’s Court: Legal Implications of Practice in Child Protection- Law Case Study Assignment

Internal Code: MAS7583

Law Case Study Assignment:

Task: Theme 2: Legal implications of practice in child protection – Coroner’s Court Read the judgement of a coronial inquiry into the death of a child in care. You may select the case provided or identify another from your own state (Northern Territory, Australia). What legislation was referred to in relation to the death? Reflect upon your reactions to the case and lessons you would take with you into this statutory field of practice. INTRODUCTION 1. Deborah Melville was one month short of her thirteenth birthday when she died. She was a vivacious, fun loving young girl, who at an early age acted as a surrogate mother for her siblings, Kevin, Tiayana, Kaylene and Michae. 2. Three weeks earlier she had suffered a minor sporting injury. As a result of deplorable neglect over the next three weeks, Deborah was never taken to a doctor or a hospital to receive medical treatment. Deborah’s upper thigh became infected. That infection led to septicaemia (blood poisoning) and pyaemia which caused all of her major organs to shut down. 3. I have more to say about the crucial facts immediately prior to her death later in these findings, however, in summary on 12 July 2007 at about 11am, Deborah’s carer and great aunt, Denise Reynolds and her son had deposited Deborah in the back yard. Her brothers and sisters were told not to give her any food or drink. This unfortunate girl, who was near death at that stage, lay on her back on the dirt near a trailer in the back yard for the next 8 hours until she suffered a cardiac arrest. She was delirious, dehydrated and dying whilst her Aunt, who was entrusted with her care, was busy at work.