Jaqueline Machado, a Sydney mother, is seeking answers from authorities after her seven-month-old daughter, Liyana, allegedly suffered a second-degree burn during blood sample collection at a hospital in Sydney’s west. According to Machado, the incident occurred when a doctor used a torch under Liyana's hand for over 20 minutes while attempting to locate a vein, resulting in a blister-shaped burn matching the light’s position. The family believes this trauma has left them severely distressed and is questioning the hospital’s practices regarding infant care.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A Sydney mother is seeking answers from authorities after her seven-month-old daughter Liyana suffered what appears to be a second-degree burn during hospital treatment. The incident occurred at a hospital in the western part of Sydney this week when medical staff were attempting to take a blood sample from Liyana, who was admitted due to a low body temperature and concerning rash across her torso and face.
Jaqueline Machado, 38, expressed frustration over how her concerns about her child's health were handled, feeling judged for her decision not to vaccinate Liyana. She stated that she became frightened when medical staff raised the possibility of a serious bacterial infection. The mother emphasized the need for healthcare providers to listen seriously to parents' worries without judgment.
Liyana is reportedly improving and has shown signs of recovery in recent days, but Machado remains focused on ensuring transparency from hospital authorities regarding her daughter's treatment and safety during the incident.
Written for “Baby Burned During Hospital Treatment” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A Sydney mother is demanding answers from authorities after her seven-month-old baby was left with what she believes was a second-degree burn while receiving treatment in hospital.
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she → demand → hospital
Jaqueline Machado, 38, said her daughter Liyana sustained the burn on her right hand while staff were attempting to take a blood sample this week.
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staff → say → sample
The Daily Mail understands the incident occurred at a hospital in Sydney's west.
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incident → understand → west
Ms Machado said Liyana was rushed into the emergency department on Monday night via ambulance after she had a low body temperature and a concerning rash across her torso and face.
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she → say → torso
'A doctor came in to see us and asked us questions about Liyana's medical history.
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doctor → come → history
At the time, Liyana had a very low temperature and we were obviously extremely concerned about what was happening to her,' Ms Machado told the Daily Mail.
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Machado → have → Mail
'There was a significant focus on the fact that Liyana was unvaccinated.
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Liyana → be → fact
I personally felt judged about her vaccination status
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I became extremely frightened when concerns were raised with us that she could potentially have a serious bacterial infection.
'
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she → become → infection
The doctor recommended that blood tests be taken to investigate what was happening and, of course, we agreed.
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we → recommend → course
We wanted the doctors to investigate.'
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doctors → want → ?
Ms Machado said the doctor told the family it could be difficult to find Liyana's vein because of her age and that they'd need to help restrain her.
Seven-month-old Liyana Rojas, is believed to have suffered a second degree burn while a doctor was taking a blood sample from her at the hospital
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The burn allegedly occurred when a doctor held a torch under her right hand to help find a vein
Her mother, Jaqueline Machado (pictured with her husband Daniel and eldest daughter), said the ordeal has left her family traumatised
She said the doctor first used an ultrasound but struggled to find the vein, before placing a light under Liyana's palm.
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doctor → occur → palm
Ms Machado added she remembers the light staying there for around 20 minutes.
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light → add → minutes
'Liyana was screaming throughout the procedure.
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Liyana → scream → procedure
At the time, we believed she was screaming because of the repeated attempts to access her vein.
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she → believe → vein
We had absolutely no idea that the light may have been causing an injury to her hand,' she said.
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she → have → hand
'I think that's the part I find the most traumatic.
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We were helping restrain our seven-month-old daughter because we believed it was necessary for her medical care.
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it → help → care
She can't speak and couldn't tell us what she was experiencing.
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she → speak → what
'
The Daily Mail understands that medical staff sometimes use 'cold lights' to help locate tiny veins in infants in a technique known as transillumination.
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staff → understand → transillumination
Ms Machado said her husband, Daniel Rojas, later noticed a blister on Liyana's hand when another doctor came in to take another blood sample after the initial sample had coagulated.
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sample → say → sample
But she said they soon realised that the 'perfect circle' blister appeared to align with the torch that had been placed on Liyana's palm earlier - one Ms Machado claims was not medically approved by the hospital.
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Machado → say → hospital
'When we first saw the blister, we didn't know what had caused it,' she said.
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she → see → it
'We asked the doctor whether it could somehow be connected to whatever was making Liyana unwell, and we understood from that conversation that infection was one possibility being considered.
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infection → ask → conversation
'
Medical staff sometimes use 'cold lights' to help locate tiny veins in infants (stock image)
Ms Machado said staff got Liyana to hold a cold cloth to loosen the blister before it burst
Liyana was then started on a course of antibiotics to treat the suspected infection.
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Liyana → use → infection
'The next doctor used a different light...
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doctor → use → light
my husband is a mechanical engineer and he recognised the type of torch that had been used earlier from his line of work.
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that → recognise → work
The mother of two, who has a sizeable online following for her wealth strategy tips, shared images of Liyana's hand to her 'Mumpreneur' Instagram page on Tuesday, where a weeping and engorged blister could be seen.
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blister → have → Tuesday
She told her followers the alleged incident has 'f***ing broken her as a mother'.
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incident → tell → mother
Liyana has now been referred to the Plastic Surgery/Burns Unit at Westmead Children's Hospital for a specialist follow-up next week, where doctors will assess the severity of the injury and treatment may be required.
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treatment → refer → injury
'At this stage, we simply don't know the full extent of the damage.
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We have been told that the burn could be partial or deeper and that surgery may potentially be required, but we won't know that until Liyana has been properly assessed,' she said.
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she → tell → that
Ms Machado, who said she doesn't have much trust in the health system after experiencing a significant reaction to the Covid vaccine, said she is now seeking answers from authorities.
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she → say → authorities
She was already an unwell seven-month-old baby when we brought her to hospital, and to then discover that she had sustained a completely separate injury while receiving treatment has been
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she → bring → treatment
,' she said.
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she → say → ?
Little Liyana is believed to be on the mend and has 'perked up' in recent days
She added: 'I just want parents to feel that they're listened to and that their concerns about their children are taken seriously, without feeling judged for the decisions they've made for their children.
'
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they → believe → children
I also believe there need to be appropriate safeguards and training around equipment being used on babies and children.
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I → believe → babies
I don't want another family to experience what we have experienced... this should never have happened.
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It's understood Ms Machado
The Daily Mail has contacted South Western Sydney Local Health District for comment.
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