A young teen from the UK has been left with irreversible brain damage and died after drinking a protein shake, an inquest heard this week.
Rohan Godhania, 16, reportedly suffered "irreversible" brain damage just days after consuming a protein shake his dad bought him at a grocery store, which he'd asked for to help him build up muscle.
Soon after drinking the shake, the teen experienced a stomach ache and vomiting, before his family rushed him to hospital.
Three days later, Rohan was pronounced dead at the hospital, though his cause of death was unknown at the time because he had been an organ donor.
An inquest in London this week heard how the protein shake brought on a rare disorder called Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, which can be triggered by a spike in protein. The disease, which is hereditary, stops the breakdown of ammonia, causing it to build up to lethal levels in the bloodstream, per The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to The Mirror, Rohan's father, Pushpa Godhania, mentioned that Rohan seemed fine after drinking the shake, but during lunchtime, he complained of a stomach ache. Despite not having any other food, he later vomited a few times in the early evening, which did not raise any immediate concerns.
The following day, Rohan's family became alarmed when he struggled to find the table in his bedroom. They rushed him to the hospital, where his condition slowly continued to deteriorate. Eventually, he was transferred to the intensive care unit, where a CT scan revealed significant swelling in his brain. The neurologists determined that operating on him would not be in his best interest. Tragically, Rohan passed away on August 18, 2020.
Due to Rohan's organs being donated for transplantation before his illness was fully diagnosed, a post-mortem examination couldn't ascertain if the protein shake was the cause of his death, as revealed in an inquest held in Buckinghamshire. Shockingly, the individual who received Rohan's organs experienced seizures and had to be rushed to the hospital 13 months later.
Lawyers representing Rohan's family have raised concerns about potential missed opportunities to screen him for ammonia before his passing. During the inquest, it was highlighted that warnings should be added to widely-available protein drinks, a measure supported by a senior neurologist who described it as potentially life-saving.
Testifying at the inquest, Rohan's father explained that he'd only purchased the shake to help him build muscle mass, given that he was quite skinny. It was his belief that Rohan's posture would improve if he gained more muscle. A statement written by the family was read on their behalf, where they described the young teen as highly intelligent and gentle.
The inquest, originally scheduled to continue on Wednesday, has been postponed to allow senior coroner Tom Osborne to review legal submissions before delivering his findings. Mr. Osborne assured Rohan's parents that he would minimize any unnecessary delay and aims to provide his factual findings before the start of the school summer holidays.
