For Joshua’s mother, Madeen Bullard, the frustration has been overwhelming.
“At this point,” she said, “I’m ready to hit rock bottom. I need action now. The talking part is over.”
She explained that she and her husband have pursued every official channel available, including writing directly to government officials and seeking intervention at the highest level.
“We met with the Prime Minister in 2025. Instructions were given. But still, there’s no movement. Everything is at a standstill.”
Joshua’s medical challenges began even before he was born. His mother received a blood transfusion at the hospital shortly before his birth in December 2015. Soon after, he developed severe developmental complications that confined him to hospital care for more than two years.
The family believes the transfusion error played a critical role in his condition. They also say hospital officials held two separate meetings with them in which negligence was acknowledged, deepening their expectation that accountability would follow.
Plans were later made for Joshua to travel abroad for specialized treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, and an emergency passport was secured to facilitate the transfer. According to the family, however, the arrangements never materialized and the overseas care was never provided.
Joshua died in March 2018 at the age of two. For his parents, the passage of nearly a decade has not eased the pain, and their pursuit of justice has become as personal as it is legal.
The family’s legal journey began with a Writ of Summons filed roughly one year after Joshua’s death.
Communication from the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) was slow. A formal response arrived in January 2020, though records show the PHA had filed a defense in late 2019, indicating its intention to contest the matter.
In February 2022, the Supreme Court contacted the family’s legal counsel with less than 24 hours’ notice for a hearing, leaving insufficient time for preparation. Efforts to secure an alternative date were unsuccessful, and the case stalled.
In mid-2022, the family sought a settlement with the PHA. Months passed without reply. When a response finally came in early 2023, the hospital declined to acknowledge liability.
Despite those setbacks, the Bullards continued pressing forward. In 2025, they met with the Prime Minister, who reportedly issued directives intended to move the matter forward. Yet, according to the family, no meaningful action followed.
“We’ve been through multiple administrations,” Mrs. Bullard said. “People who should be acting on this simply don’t. Our attorney has gone back and forth with the Attorney General’s Office and the courts, but still, nothing.”
She says the fight is larger than her family alone.
“I want to be a voice for mothers who can’t stand up because they are afraid. No amount of money can bring Joshua back. But we want justice. We want closure. We want someone to take accountability.”
Nine years after Joshua’s death, the family says they remain committed to ensuring the matter is not forgotten — not only for their son, but for other families who may one day find themselves in similar circumstances.
