Parents' trial hears baby kept alive so they could say goodbye

In hospital Room 1420, just hours after he took his last breaths, "baby John" lay under fluorescent lighting while a forensic crime scene unit detective took photos of his tiny, rash-covered body.

John died with his parents at his side, after apediatricICU doctor kept the boy's heart beating long enough for them to return to the hospital on Nov. 29, 2013,21 hours after they first sought medical care.

Now, those parents are on trial, accused of failing to take their 14-month-old son to a doctor before it was too late.

Jennifer, 41, andJeromieClark, 38, are charged withcriminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life.

• Parents on trial in toddler's death brought boy to hospital 'on death's doorstep,' Calgary jurors hear

On Tuesday, jurors heard from more medical professionals who tried to save John's life in the hours he was at the Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH), including Dr. MeaganMahoney, who was in charge of the pediatric intensive care unit when John was admitted.

When John arrived, ablistering rash covered more than 70 per cent of his body and four of histoes were black with gangrene.The boy was in septic shock, suffering multiple organ failure and ultimately died from a staph infection, jurors heard.

Mahoneyteared up as she looked at photos of John taken by Const. Craig Adolph in the hours after his death.

The doctor testified from the moment John arrived at hospital he was"absolutely, critically ill" and said she was worried he was too sick to survive the infection that was attacking his organs.

'Very grim' prognosis

When she toldthe Clarksshe was "very worried [John] was not going to survive"both parents were shocked and devastated at the news, saidMahoney.

The Clarks toldJohn's doctor he had been sick for a few days and that they initially believed he was having an eczema flare-up tied to teething.

Over time, they said he became less interested in feeding and more lethargic. Jennifer said she began to supplement breast feeding with coconut water to keep the boy hydrated.

Shortly afterMahoneyreturned to the trauma bay, John suffered a seizure and was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) where he went into cardiac arrest.

Doctors were able to revive John butMahoneysaid his prognosis was "very grim."

Parents return to say goodbye

Mahoneytold the Clarks she would be notifying Child and Family Services of the boy's condition.

Another doctor took over John's care overnight andMahoneyreturned around 8:00 a.m. the next day. By mid-morning, John went into cardiac arrest again.

Mahoneytold prosecutor Shane Parker electrical pads on John's chest kept him alive so his parents could return to the hospitalto say goodbye.

"His heart never restarted on its own," saidMahoney. "I kept him alive to get his parents to his bedside."

At 12:47 p.m. the baby was declared dead.

John died of a staphylococcus infection, which he would have survivedif he had been treated sooner, according to the doctor.

John suffering hypothermia

Defence lawyers David Chow and John Phillips willcross-examineMahoneyWednesday.

The prosecution says it will present evidence the parents researched natural remedies in the days before the baby died.

Tests done after John's death showed he was also suffering from malnutrition, Parker said in his opening statement on Monday.

Dr. HusseinUnwala, another physician who cared for John during his hospitalization said the boywas as cold as a child who had been pulled from a frozen lake.

Under cross-examination,Unwalatold defence lawyer Chow that when John first arrived at the children's hospital,his breathing was normal and he was notin seizure or cardiac arrest.

Unwala confirmed to Jennifer Clark's lawyer John Phillips that he made no note John was suffering from malnutrition during his time in the ER.

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