Father says Martha’s rule would have saved life of son who died at London hospital

Balram Patel (left) with his father, Jay, who says his son was given unsuitable treatment and he was refused a second opinion. Photograph: family

A 30-year-old man who died last month at one of the UK’s leading hospitals would still be alive if “Martha’s rule”, giving the right to a second opinion, had been in place, his father has said.

Balram Patel, who was described by his father as “happiness personified” died at St Thomas’ hospital on 9 August. Balram had multiple disabilities and was developmentally delayed, so behaved more like an eight-year-old. Jay Patel, 58, claimed that when his son fell ill, he was given unsuitable treatment, which had not previously worked on him, and he was refused a second opinion. As a consequence, he said Balram’s lungs became fatally flooded.