Failure to deliver premature baby by caesarean section
Shelley was twenty-eight weeks pregnant when she was admitted into hospital after loss of blood and period-like pains. She was sent home but after further blood loss and deceleration of the baby’s heart beat she was re-admitted.
The consultant examined Shelley and decided not to give her a caesarean section as he believed there would be more risk with a caesarean section than to let Shelley give birth naturally. Further complications followed and Shelley’s labour was induced with drugs.
Shelley’s baby suffered a brain haemorrhage during birth which caused brain damage and led to cerebral palsy. Expert evidence stated that a reasonable obstetrician would not have acted in this way and would have opted for a caesarean section and Shelley pursued a successful claim against the local NHS Trust.
