Dying baby 'should have been seen much earlier' by doctor, parents' trial hears

At 14 months old, John Clark wasn't yet crawling and couldn't pull himself up developmental milestones so significantly delayed, he should have seen a doctor early on in his short life, a doctor told jurors Thursday.

But it wasn't until the baby was "on death's doorstep" that he was brought to see medical professionals.

"This child should have been seen early in life," said Dr.TajdinJadavji, an expert in pediatric infectious disease who testified on Day 4 of Jennifer andJeromieClark's trial. "He should have been seen much earlier."

The couple is accused of failing to take their dying boy to a doctor before it was too late.The Crown must establish a timeline of how long the baby had been ill before he was brought to a doctor.

The couple's defence lawyers have suggested the boy could have died after contracting an infection at the hospital or if doctors increasedJohn's saline levels too quickly.

• Lawyer for parents on trial in baby's death suggests children's hospital staff to blame

Baby was hypothermic

Jennifer, 41, andJeromie, 38, are each charged withcriminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life. Their three-week jury trial began Monday.

The Clarks brought John to the hospital on Nov. 28, 2013, but he died 21 hours later from a staph infection complicated by malnutrition, according to evidence presented by prosecutors Shane Parker and Jennifer Crews.

When the family arrived at hospital, John was in septic shock, hypothermic, hadablistering rash covering more than 70 per cent of his body and four toes were black with gangrene.

Jadavji, who has been the head of infection control at the Alberta Children's Hospital for 20 years, testified it would have taken at least seven days from the time the baby's toes became infected and began losingblood supply and changing colour to became black with gangrene.

• Parents' trial hears baby kept alive so they could say goodbye

'This has not occurred in one hour'

Defence lawyers David Chow and John Phillips have suggested to various witnesses that John contracted his fatal infection during his first 60 minutes in hospital, butJadavjisaid that paired with the child's other symptoms, it would have taken longer.

"This has not occurred in one hour," saidJadavji. "If this child came completely well and then we see this, maybe we start questioning that."

The specialist also noted that if contaminated equipment was to blame for the infection, hospital staff would have almost certainly seen "clusters" of children affected.

Jadavjidid not treat John at hospital but rather compiled a report based on other medical documents connected to the child's care.

• Parents on trial in toddler's death brought boy to hospital 'on death's doorstep,' Calgary jurors hear

Doctor accused of being defensive

Chow hassuggested doctors increased the baby's saline levels too quickly, causing him to have seizures and go into cardiac arrest.

On Thursday, asecond doctor denied Chow's assertion that she causedthe child's death.

Dr. Cathy Ross, who was responsible for John's treatment overnight on Nov. 28,testified earlier on Thursday that the boy was "moribund" when she first saw him 10 minutes after his arrival at the Children's hospital.

Ross explained that means "very close to death."

In cross-examination, Ross confirmed toJeromie'slawyer that the boy had a clear airway and soft abdomen when he arrived at hospital.

Chow accusedher ofbeing defensive with him and asked if it was because, "as a doctor, you have some concerns that you may have played a role in either causing or significantly causing John's death?"

"No," Ross responded.

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