Aliyah Yugovich: Mother Jess Yugovich slams Amber-Jade Sanderson’s comments over toddler death
The mother of a Perth toddler who died unexpectedly at a Perth hospital has slammed the Health Minister’s “inappropriate” response to her daughter’s case in parliament.
Three-year-old Aliyah Yugovich passed away suddenly in July after contracting the flu following a routine tonsillectomy.
The coroner is yet to announce her cause of death, but a 7NEWS investigation revealed that an unprescribed drug was found in her system.
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“The way she behaved is childish and inappropriate,” she told 7NEWS.
“Our lives have been completely destroyed by this, and to see the person who is meant to be helping people like us behave like that is infuriating.”
Opposition leader Libby Mettam asked Ms Sanderson whether a lack of adequate resourcing at Perth Children’s Hospital was a factor in Aliyah’s death during Question Time on Tuesday.
Ms Sanderson accused Ms Mettam of politicising the issue, saying she had “plumbed some serious depths, and this is a new low.”
“This terrible circumstance is not fodder for Question Time,” Ms Sanderson added.
“This is purely seeking to politicise what is a terrible event, madam speaker … and a grubby attempt by the leader of the opposition.”
Ms Yugovich said the response from Ms Sanderson was disrespectful.
“That’s the first time I have heard her comment on the death of my daughter,” she said.
“Libby Mettam asked a valid question, and I want answers to those questions.”
Ms Sanderson offered an apology to the Yugovich family on Wednesday but doubled down on her comments that Question Time was an “inherently political forum”.
“I want to start by extending my sympathies to the Yugovich family,” she said.
“It saddens me if any of the comments in Question Time yesterday upset them, and I genuinely wish them well.”
“I continue to say that parents should always be heard, and this is a complex investigation that needs time to be undertaken.”
Ms Yugovich said she would like a meeting with the Minister and a commitment to action to prevent a similar incident from happening to another child.
The coroner’s findings are expected before Christmas.
