The government of Western Australia may have a legal meeting to find out why a baby died at a hospital.

西澳政府可能會舉行法律會議，以查明一名嬰兒在醫院死亡的原因。

A baby named Willow went to the hospital on September 7. She was very sick. The doctors wanted to send her to a bigger hospital in Perth. But the plane was late. Willow died on September 9.

一名叫 Willow 的嬰兒於 9 月 7 日就醫。當時她的病情非常嚴重。醫生希望將她轉診至珀斯一家較大的醫院。但飛機延遲了。Willow 於 9 月 9 日死亡。

Doctors looked at what happened. They found some problems. The staff did not talk to each other well. They also think Willow had a rare heart problem. This problem is very hard to find and treat.

醫生調查了事發經過，發現了一些問題。職員之間的溝通並不順暢。他們還認為 Willow 患有一種罕見的心臟問題，這種疾病非常難以發現和治療。

The parents are sad and angry. They say the hospital made mistakes. They think the baby could live if the plane came faster. The hospital says the doctors did not make a big mistake. No staff lost their jobs.

父母感到悲痛且憤怒。他們表示醫院犯了錯誤。他們認為如果飛機能更快到達，嬰兒或許能活下來。醫院則表示醫生並沒有犯下重大錯誤，也沒有職員因此失職。

The hospital is now changing seven things to help other patients. The parents still want a legal meeting.

醫院目前正在修改七項措施以幫助其他患者。而父母仍希望舉行法律會議。

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。

The Western Australian government has indicated a willingness to support a coronial inquiry following the death of an eight-month-old infant at a regional medical facility.

西澳政府表示，在一家地區醫療機構發生一名八個月大嬰兒死亡事件後，願意支持進行死因研訊。

The patient, Willow Katarina Horne, was admitted to the Kalgoorlie Health Campus on September 7, 2025, presenting with respiratory distress. Despite initial treatment for pneumonia and dehydration, the patient's condition deteriorated, necessitating a transfer to Perth Children's Hospital. This transfer was delayed due to the diversion of a Royal Flying Doctor Service flight to a higher-priority patient; the subject subsequently suffered cardiac arrest and expired on September 9.

患者 Willow Katarina Horne 於 2025 年 9 月 7 日入院至卡爾古利健康校園，當時呈現呼吸窘迫。儘管最初針對肺炎與脫水進行治療，但患者情況惡化，必須轉診至珀斯兒童醫院。由於皇家飛行醫生服務 (RFDS) 的航班被調往處理一名優先級更高的患者，導致轉院延遲；該患者隨後心臟停搏，於 9 月 9 日死亡。

A clinical review conducted by the WA Country Health Service, overseen by Executive Director Helen Van Gessel, identified systemic deficiencies. Specifically, the review noted failures in the escalation of care, inadequate inter-staff communication, and suboptimal oversight of RFDS staffing levels. While a definitive cause of death remains unconfirmed, the review panel posits that myocarditis—a rare inflammatory condition of the heart muscle—was the probable underlying pathology. Dr. Van Gessel noted that the rarity and diagnostic complexity of myocarditis contribute to high fatality rates in pediatric populations.

由執行董事 Helen Van Gessel 監督的西澳鄉村健康服務進行了臨床審查，發現了系統性缺陷。具體而言，審查指出在提升護理級別方面存在失職、員工間溝通不足，以及對 RFDS 人手編制監管不足。雖然最終死因尚未確認，但審查小組認為心肌炎（一種罕見的心肌發炎情況）是可能的潛在病理原因。Van Gessel 醫生指出，心肌炎的罕見性與診斷複雜度，導致兒童族群的死亡率較高。

Stakeholder positioning remains divergent regarding the necessity of further legal proceedings. The parents, Kaydence Sutherland and William Horne, contend that clinical mismanagement and miscommunication regarding the patient's prognosis occurred, asserting that a timely transfer to a specialist facility might have altered the outcome. Conversely, the health administration maintains that no medical negligence or malpractice has been established, and no staff members have faced disciplinary action. Health Minister Meredith Hammat has expressed a conceptual openness to a coronial inquest to facilitate institutional learning, yet she has refrained from formally initiating the process via the Attorney-General, citing a commitment to the independence of the coroner's office.

持份者對於是否有必要採取進一步法律行動的看法仍分歧。父母 Kaydence Sutherland 與 William Horne 主張，院方在臨床管理以及關於患者預後的溝通上出現失誤，並認定若能及時轉診至專科設施，結果可能會有所不同。相反地，健康行政部門維持認為尚未證明存在醫療疏忽或專業失當，且無員工面臨紀律處分。衛生部長 Meredith Hammat 表示，在概念上對死因研訊持開放態度以促進機構學習，但她尚未透過總檢察長正式啟動程序，理由是需維持死因裁判官辦公室的獨立性。

The administration has commenced the implementation of seven recommendations derived from the clinical review while the family continues to advocate for a formal coronial inquest.

行政部門已開始執行臨床審查得出的七項建議，而家屬仍持續爭取進行正式的死因研訊。