A teenage girl ignored by teachers at her boarding school after complaining of "crippling pain" was sick days before she died of an infection, an autopsy has revealed.
Taylor Goodridge, 17, from Utah, US, tragically died on December 20 at Diamond Ranch Academy, a boarding school for troubled teens, after an investigation found school staff failed to seek medical care for her.
She had complained of feeling poorly and had been sick multiple times in the lead up to her death.
And now an autopsy report by the Utah Medical Examiner’s office concluded that Taylor died of peritonitis, an infection of the abdomen tissue.
It led to sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition that arises from a body’s response to infection, and spread to her vital organs causing them to fail, the report said.
Peritonitis can cause tiredness, nausea, a swollen stomach and vomiting - which were all symptoms Taylor had been complaining off in the weeks leading up to her death.
It is an illness which should be treated quickly with antibiotics, according to medics.
Following the autopsy report, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Taylor had shown signs of illness since October and her symptoms worsened just days before her death.
Diamond Ranch Academy did not take Taylor to the hospital until the day she died, the report concluded.
“In the 12-day period prior to the client’s death, program documentation recorded that the client vomited at least 14 times,” the report stated.
“Nine days prior to the client’s death, documentation recorded the client vomited at least 7 times in an 11-hour time frame.”
Taylor’s parents, Dean Goodridge and AmberLynn Wigtion, said the report shows their daughters death was entirely preventable.
Their statement said: “We are devastated to learn that Taylor’s death was entirely preventable had Diamond Ranch Academy cared."
Bill Frazier, a lawyer for the school, did not comment on the report as the school hadn't seen it but previously called Taylor's death a "tragic circumstance."
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services put Diamond Ranch Academy’s licence on probation and halted its ability allow new students after Taylor’s death.
However, in March and before the autopsy report was released, the state lifted the enrolment restrictions after an appeal from the school and multiple state visits.
The department said: “DHHS inspections showed DRA had made the changes needed to become compliant and showed no evidence to prevent the facility from taking on new clients."
The department said it is still determining whether the autopsy "is considered additional information related to" Diamond Ranch Academy's licence.
Taylor’s parents said they were “dumbfounded” that the state “has not held Diamond Ranch Academy accountable for Taylor’s death, settling with Diamond Ranch Academy without any input from our family.”
The family are suing Diamond Ranch Academy over Taylor's death “to make sure this does not happen to other innocent teens and their families.”
