Toddler’s Tragic Death After Routine Circumcision Shocks Australia
A two-year-old boy died from morphine toxicity after a circumcision at a Perth clinic, while his brother required emergency surgery, prompting an investigation into medical negligence. The coroner’s findings revealed preventable errors, sparking demands for improved safety protocols in pediatric procedures.
A routine circumcision at Gosnells Medical Clinic in Perth, Australia, turned deadly on December 7, 2021, when two-year-old David Kalunga Flynn succumbed to opioid toxicity hours after the procedure. His eight-month-old brother, Joseph, also required emergency surgery for severe bleeding from the same surgery performed by Dr. Raad Hassan. The tragedy, detailed in a coronial inquest concluded on July 31, 2025, revealed critical lapses in medical care, prompting a referral to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for scrutiny of Dr. Hassan’s conduct.
David and Joseph underwent circumcisions at their mother Alice Flynn’s request. Dr. Hassan, who had performed approximately 6,000 circumcisions, 4,000 in Iraq and 2,000 in Australia, administered 3mg of morphine to sedate David but not Joseph due to his younger age. Both boys were discharged within an hour, despite David’s heavy sedation and Joseph’s visible pain and bleeding. That evening, Alice found David unresponsive and cold, with no pulse. He was pronounced dead at Armadale Hospital at 8:03 PM, while Joseph was rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital for surgery to repair a damaged frenular artery.
Coroner Robyn Hartley ruled David’s death was caused by “cardiorespiratory arrest in a young child with a likely opioid (morphine) toxicity,” stating, “The critical issue in David’s case arose out of the administration of sedation in the form of morphine.” She noted, “Procedural sedation, particularly in children, comes with significant known risks … [which] can be mitigated if the sedationist complies with requirements aimed at ensuring patient safety.” Hartley highlighted multiple failures, including inadequate monitoring, improper morphine use, and disregard for fasting rules, concluding, “If David had been kept at Gosnells Medical Clinic after the procedure and monitored appropriately prior to discharge, his deterioration would have been identified and reversal of the developing opioid toxicity could have occurred. This would very likely have saved his life.”
Dr. Hassan, expressing “deep remorse,” has ceased performing circumcisions and relinquished morphine access but continues practicing medicine. Hartley described David as a “happy, healthy child” with no prior medical issues, adding, “David was a much-loved child taken from his family in devastating circumstances. He underwent a simple, elective procedure that is generally considered to be safe when performed on healthy children.” The family’s spokesperson, Noor Blumer, emphasized their desire for reform, stating, “They are a very committed Christian family and they are not the kind of people that are vindictive or out to get anybody. I don’t think there’s a good outcome for them, but I think the best outcome will be if there could be an improvement in practises when making circumcisions available.”
The inquest, held over two days in February 2025, exposed breaches of medical guidelines, including poor record-keeping and inappropriate syringe use, amplifying risks of overdose. The case has fuelled calls for stricter circumcision regulations in Australia, with experts advocating for hospital-based procedures under general anesthesia.