The plaintiffs brought a medical malpractice action alleging that a paediatrician breached the standard of care by failing to conduct follow‑up glucose testing and refer a child to an endocrinologist after a hypoglycaemic episode.
They argued that earlier investigation would have led to a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism and prevented a later hypoglycaemic seizure causing permanent brain injury.
The court considered conflicting expert evidence regarding the appropriate standard of care for paediatricians and whether a single episode of hypoglycaemia required referral or further testing.
The court preferred the evidence of defence experts that the episode was transient and that further investigation was not required absent recurring symptoms.
It also found the plaintiffs failed to establish causation, as it was speculative whether earlier referral would have prevented the later seizure.
