The family of a teenager who died after he had an allergic reaction to a food item he had ordered from a delivery app have called for changes to the way such services operate.
An inquest was held on Friday to investigate the death of James Tsindos, who died on May 27, 2021.
James, who was 17 years old at that time, had a sensitivity to nuts and would typically check the ingredients in his food. However, he did not do so on this occasion.
He suffered from severe allergic reactions after eating the meal. His father then called an ambulance after the teen called a restaurant.
It was later revealed that the bowl of food he had ordered contained a vegan sauce that came from cashews.
After assessing James at his home in Brighton, the paramedics referred him to be a potential anaphylaxis case. They administered adrenaline to ease his swelling and nausea.
A few minutes later, Jonathan Hammond, a paramedic, administered another adrenaline shot. This helped ease the swelling in his lip and throat, as well as his abdominal cramps.
James was then taken to a private hospital as a precautionary measure. During the ambulance ride, Hammond watched him.
He appeared to be comfortable as he was wheeled into the hospital. While he was being transported, James noted that he felt like he was wheezing.
He was then placed in an isolation ward. During this time, Hammond also handed over to the nurses, who have been the subject of debate regarding whether they were informed about his condition.
Hammond noted that one of the nurses left to get a puffer spacer after he told them about his condition. At around four in the afternoon, James was placed on oxygen and administered saline and adrenaline.
However, he started to point to his upper airway, which was indicating that he was having a hard time breathing. He was then transferred to a resuscitation ward. A minute later, he started to become unresponsive and eventually died.
The nurses and doctors tried to revive James for around 40 minutes. However, despite their efforts, he eventually died. They then requested that he be transferred to The Alfred due to his condition, which included a severe rash and a collapsed lung.
After suffering a cardiac arrest, James suffered a brain injury. His life support was stopped on June 1. An inquest regarding his death was held on Friday. It focused on the use of food delivery apps for allergies and the appropriateness of the medical treatment he received. James’ family’s lawyer stated that the teenager was a beautiful individual who was always full of hope and laughter.
The family’s attorney stated that they were still trying to determine what happened and whether it could have been prevented. They also want to make sure that other families don’t suffer the same fate. In June, UberEats introduced new features designed to help customers with food allergies navigate the restaurant industry. These features include a disclaimer that informs consumers if the restaurant can accommodate their requests.
Through their respective platforms, DoorDash and Menulog encouraged customers to reach out to establishments to let them know if they have food allergies. Restaurants can also add options to accommodate requests.