Why did the baby Izzah Fatima Ali die at Royal Cornwall Hospital?

Izzah Fatima Ali died from complications of profound anaemia caused by consuming cow's milk, a risk the hospital staff did not identify.

How did a language barrier contribute to Izzah Ali's death?

The language barrier meant crucial feeding information in Urdu was not provided, and hospital staff failed to fully understand the baby's diet.

What are the risks of feeding cow's milk to babies?

Feeding cow's milk to infants under one year old is a major risk factor for iron deficiency anaemia, as it contains little iron and hinders absorption.

Home / Health / Baby Dies After Hospital Misses Cow's Milk Danger

Baby Dies After Hospital Misses Cow's Milk Danger

10 Dec

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Summary

A nine-month-old baby died after being fed cow's milk by parents unaware of risks.
Hospital staff failed to ask about the type of milk given, despite 'bottle fed' mention.
A crucial feeding guide was in English only, not in the mother's native Urdu.

Baby Dies After Hospital Misses Cow's Milk Danger

A nine-month-old baby, Izzah Fatima Ali, died at Royal Cornwall Hospital in September 2024, with an expert calling the circumstances "avoidable." Her parents, unaware of the severe risks, had been regularly feeding her cow's milk. Despite hospital visits for her deteriorating health, staff failed to identify the harmful milk. A significant communication gap existed, as the baby's mother is from Pakistan and does not speak English, relying on her husband for translation.

The inquest heard that when Izzah's father mentioned she was "bottle fed," medical staff did not inquire further about the specific type of milk. Crucially, the only feeding guide provided was in English, omitting vital information about the dangers of cow's milk for infants. A version of the guide available in Urdu, which includes this information, was not supplied.