Infant dies after transfer to Edmonton for liver transplant assessment; family blames Surrey hospital

VANCOUVER — A family from Surrey, British Columbia, is demanding answers about the death of their 11-month-old son, whose health deteriorated sharply and who was transferred to Edmonton in an attempt to save his life.

The family says Surrey Memorial Hospital did not respond quickly enough to warning signs in their son, Salahuddin Abrar, before he was diagnosed with acute liver failure.

The child died on April 19, 2026. His family is still waiting for a written response to a complaint they filed with Fraser Health, asking for an explanation of the medical decisions made before his death.

Worrying symptoms, then a return home

The child's father, Abrar Ahmed, said the family took Salahuddin to the emergency department at Surrey Memorial Hospital two days before he died, after he developed symptoms including repeated vomiting and abnormally pale white stools.

According to the father, the doctor did not carry out tests to measure blood pressure or blood sugar despite the family's concern, and told them to go home and use a rehydration solution.

Ahmed believes the symptoms called for additional tests and a more detailed assessment, but says the family's concerns did not receive the response they needed.

These details remain the family's account. No final investigation report has been issued establishing that a medical error occurred or determining responsibility.

Ten critical hours in the emergency department

Salahuddin's condition later worsened, and his family took him back to the hospital on April 18 after he became unresponsive.

This time, tests showed a dangerously low blood sugar level. The medical team had difficulty giving fluids through a vein and had to use intraosseous administration, delivering them into the bone.

The father said the family spent about ten hours in the emergency department, from noon until about 9:30 p.m., asking for more interventions to help the child.

He added that the handling of the case changed after another nurse took over his care, before the decision was made to transfer him to BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver.

Liver failure diagnosed, urgent transfer to Alberta

At the children's hospital, doctors found that Salahuddin had acute liver failure, a serious condition that can require a liver transplant to save a patient's life.

Because his health was deteriorating, it was decided to transfer him to Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, for specialized care and an assessment of whether a liver transplant was possible.

Despite the medical team's efforts to stabilize him, the child died on the morning of April 19, before doctors were able to save him.

His father says the family trusted the doctors' decisions but now lives with painful questions about whether the outcome could have been different had there been earlier intervention.

Formal complaint unanswered since July

The family filed a complaint with Fraser Health's Patient Care Quality Office in July 2026, asking for a review of the medical procedures and decisions.

Ahmed said the health authority promised a written response in September, but he had not received the answers he sought as of November, more than three months later.

Fraser Health says it cannot discuss details of the case because of patient privacy rules, and offered its condolences to the family.

It added that complex investigations can take longer, and that its aim is to provide a thorough and accurate review.

Family calls for a right to an urgent second medical opinion

Ahmed is calling for a system similar to Martha's Rule in the United Kingdom, which allows families to request an urgent assessment from another medical team when they feel a patient's condition is worsening without an appropriate response.

Connie Yorsvik of Patient Pathways, an organization that advocates for patients' rights, criticized the limited independence of some complaint mechanisms and called for greater transparency.

Families in British Columbia who are dissatisfied with the outcome of a health authority's review can ask for an independent review through the Patient Care Quality Review Board.