The Western Australian government has stated that it is willing to support a formal legal inquiry following the death of an eight-month-old baby at a regional hospital.

西澳政府表示，在一家地區醫院發生一名八個月大嬰兒死亡後，他們願意支持進行正式的法律調查。

The patient, Willow Katarina Horne, was admitted to the Kalgoorlie Health Campus on September 7, 2025, because she was having difficulty breathing. Although she received treatment for pneumonia and dehydration, her condition got worse, and she needed to be moved to Perth Children's Hospital. However, the transfer was delayed because a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) flight was sent to a more urgent patient. Consequently, the infant suffered cardiac arrest and passed away on September 9.

患者 Willow Katarina Horne 於 2025 年 9 月 7 日因呼吸困難而被送入卡爾古利健康院。雖然她接受了肺炎與脫水的治療，但病情惡化，需要轉院至珀斯兒童醫院。然而，由於皇家飛行醫生服務（RFDS）的航班被派遣至一名更緊急的患者處，導致轉院延遲。結果，該名嬰兒於 9 月 9 日心臟驟停而去世。

A clinical review led by Executive Director Helen Van Gessel found several systemic problems. Specifically, the review highlighted failures in how care was escalated, poor communication between staff, and a lack of proper oversight regarding RFDS staffing. While the exact cause of death is not confirmed, the panel suggested that myocarditis—a rare heart inflammation—was the likely cause. Dr. Van Gessel emphasized that because this condition is rare and difficult to diagnose, it often leads to high death rates in children.

由執行總監 Helen Van Gessel 領導的臨床審查發現了數個系統性問題。具體而言，審查強調了在醫療升級處理、員工間的溝通以及對 RFDS 人員編制監管方面的失效。雖然確切死因尚未確認，但專家小組認為心肌炎（一種罕見的心臟炎症）是可能的死因。Van Gessel 醫生強調，由於這種疾病罕見且難以診斷，因此在兒童中的死亡率通常較高。

There are different opinions on whether further legal action is necessary. The parents, Kaydence Sutherland and William Horne, argue that there was medical mismanagement and poor communication about the baby's condition. They assert that a faster transfer to a specialist hospital might have saved her life. In contrast, the health administration maintains that there is no evidence of medical negligence, and no staff have been punished. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said she is open to a coronial inquest to help the hospital improve, but she has not formally started the process to ensure the coroner's office remains independent.

關於是否需要進一步採取法律行動，目前存在不同意見。父母 Kaydence Sutherland 與 William Horne 主張醫療處理不當，且關於嬰兒狀況的溝通欠佳。他們認為若能更快轉至專科醫院，或許能挽救孩子的生命。相反，衛生管理部門堅持沒有證據顯示醫療疏忽，也沒有員工受到處分。衛生部長 Meredith Hammat 表示她對進行死因研訊以幫助醫院改善持開放態度，但尚未正式啟動程序，以確保死因裁判官辦公室保持獨立。

The administration has started to apply seven recommendations from the clinical review, while the family continues to ask for a formal legal inquiry.

管理部門已開始執行臨床審查的七項建議，而家屬則繼續要求進行正式的法律調查。