The inquest into the death of 12-year-old Mia Lucas has revealed new evidence regarding her tragic passing. Mia, from Arnold in Nottinghamshire, died at the Becton Centre for Children and Young People in Sheffield in January last year, just weeks after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Her mother, Chloe Lucas, 33, was visibly emotional as the inquest heard that Mia was suffering from autoimmune encephalitis, a potentially treatable brain disorder.

Mia was found unresponsive in her room on January 29, 2024, and pronounced dead the following day. Professor Marta Cohen, a pathologist, presented new blood test results at Sheffield Coroner’s Court, confirming that Mia had autoimmune encephalitis, which can lead to severe psychiatric symptoms. The initial cause of death was identified as "compression of the neck," but Prof Cohen added that this was linked to "acute psychosis" caused by the autoimmune condition.

The inquest, which began last week, has focused on whether Mia had this brain disorder. An expert neurologist, Dr Mike Taylor, initially stated it was only "possible" that Mia had autoimmune encephalitis. However, after the new evidence was presented, he revised his statement to confirm it was now "definitive" that she had the condition, which contributed to her psychosis.

Mia was admitted to the Becton Centre after her family sought help at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham on December 31, 2023. Reports indicated that she had attempted to harm herself and was experiencing hallucinations, hearing voices that urged her to go to heaven. Following her sectioning at QMC, she was transferred to the Becton Centre on January 9, 2024, after doctors concluded there was no physical cause for her psychosis.

Dr Taylor expressed concern that further tests, such as a lumbar puncture and an EEG, were not conducted at QMC. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the medical team but noted that these tests could have provided crucial information. He also highlighted the potential risks associated with treating autoimmune encephalitis, stating that such treatments can have severe side effects, including death.

The inquest continues to explore the circumstances surrounding Mia's death and the medical decisions made during her treatment. The case has raised questions about the recognition and management of rare conditions like autoimmune encephalitis in young patients.