Dedicated Medical Negligence Solicitors in Monaghan

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE

Failing in Care of Newborn Baby

In a case settled in the High Court, the Coombe Hospital offered heartfelt and unreserved apologies for the failings of care it owed to the parents of a baby girl who died a day after her birth. The baby’s parents sued the hospital for nervous shock.

It was submitted to the court that the parents of the baby girl got to the root of the tragedy. They alleged in their claim against the hospital that the hospital had been negligent and breached their duty of care in the treatment afforded to the child and mother during delivery and in the neonatal care in the initial minutes of baby Ruby’s life. It was claimed that baby Ruby was caused to suffer severe and profound injuries that led to her death the following day.

Additionally, it was claimed that there was a failure to appreciate the deterioration in Ruby’s condition prior to her delivery which was allegedly attributable to a combination of maternal hypertension and a small placental abruption.           

Following the birth of Ruby, it was claimed that there was a delay in intubation and a failure to provide effective ventilation to Ruby during at least three of the first four minutes of her life.

It was claimed that there was a failure to appreciate that the mother’s blood pressure had fallen significantly in the aftermath of the administration of the epidural top-up. Further, it was claimed there was a failure to proceed with the expeditious delivery of Ruby at a time that would have averted the onset or severity of her hypoxia related injuries.

When baby Ruby was born at 5.17 a.m. by forceps delivery, she was later transferred to the neonatal unit where active cooling treatment took place.

The hospital carried out a review of their case which acknowledged the pain and suffering of the parents but not any deficiencies in their daughter’s care and this had significantly exacerbated the couple’s trauma and suffering.

A letter was read to the court on behalf of the hospital offering their heartfelt and unreserved apologies for the failings of care to the parents of a baby girl who died.  The letter stated that they regretted that the maternal blood pressure had not been monitored between 4.15 a.m. and 4.46 a.m. and the letter also stated that it was not their intention to add to the parents’ distress in any way in reference to the review carried out by the hospital.

As the parties reached a settlement, the court did not have to make a finding but approved the settlement.

Holland and Holland v The Coombe Hospital High Court (Coffey J) 10 May 2023.