NEED TO KNOW
- A new father died a day after he was allegedly misdiagnosed with tonsillitis
- Michael Reynolds, 29, actually had the potentially fatal condition epiglottitis, which causes a swelling of the flap at the top of the windpipe
- He had a seizure at home and later died of cardiac arrest, caused by a lack of oxygen, per his family’s law firm, Irwin Mitchell
A new father died a day after doctors allegedly misdiagnosed him with tonsillitis.
Michael Reynolds, a 29-year-old truck driver, first sought medical care on November 29, 2023, when he complained of a lingering cough and sore throat. He was prescribed a steroid nasal spray and referred for a chest X-ray, according to a statement from the family’s law firm, Irwin Mitchell. Michael’s condition deteriorated the following day, and he returned to his doctor’s office, where he saw a different physician.
At the time, Michael said he felt like his throat was closing up, and he was spitting saliva into a bowl because he couldn’t swallow. He was allegedly diagnosed with tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils — and prescribed oral antibiotics. The family’s law firm alleges it was “not made clear” to Michael that he should go to the emergency room.
After leaving the doctor’s office, Michael and his wife, Charlotte, picked up his antibiotics from the pharmacy and returned to their home in Boston, Lincolnshire, in the U.K.
The next morning, Michael had a seizure; Charlotte called an ambulance which took him to the hospital, where he died on Dec. 1, 2023.
According to Irwin Mitchell, the coroner found that Michael had epiglottitis, which is a swelling of the flap that covers the windpipe. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, it’s an uncommon condition, most likely caused by a bacterial infection, and shouldn’t be treated at home. According to the Clinic, “It’s essential to get to the emergency room (ER) immediately if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of epiglottitis. Epiglottitis is a medical emergency.”
The epiglottitis and upper airway obstruction led to Michael’s hypoxic cardiac arrest — aka, cardiac arrest caused by a lack of oxygen. Per Irwin Mitchell, an inquest into his death found there was a “missed opportunity” to give Michael “robust advice” to go to the emergency room, per the coroner, who explained that staff there would likely have been more familiar with the condition.
“This is a truly tragic case where a young dad has lost his life. Charlotte and the rest of Michael’s family are understandably struggling to come to terms with losing him so suddenly and unexpectedly, and under such circumstances,” Rosie Charlton, the family’s attorney, said. “They’ve also had a number of concerns about the events that unfolded in the lead up to Michael’s death. Worryingly, the inquest has validated those concerns.”
“Watching Jacob grow up without his daddy by his side is devastating and we miss Michael every single day,” Charlotte, whose son is now 3, said in the Irwin Mitchell statement. “Michael meant everything to us and losing him has left a huge hole in our lives that will never go away. We’d do anything to bring him back.”
Her statement to Irwin Mitchell continued: “All I can hope for now is that by sharing our story, it can lead to improvements in care for others and more awareness around the signs of epiglottitis and the need for emergency treatment, as it’s something I’d never even heard of before.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone going through what we have.”