Legal action looms for GP cleared after ‘notorious presentation’

The young patient's family will sue the doctor over the appendicitis misdiagnosis death, say lawyers
Australian Associated Press
Michelle Degenhardt
Luca’s mother Michelle Degenhardt. Photo: AAP

A coroner has refused to criticise a GP who diagnosed his 13-year-old patient with gastroenteritis, only for the child to die from retrocaecal appendicitis five days later.

The inquest was told by expert witnesses they could have easily made the same misdiagnosis of a ‘notorious presentation’.