Family receive compensation after death of newborn child
Our client Helen was pregnant and had a history of high blood pressure. When she attended her first antenatal appointment she was noted to be hypertensive and “at significant risk of pre-eclampsia”.
Helen twice went to hospital after experiencing vaginal bleeding. On both occasions she was reassured after normal CTG scans and discharged from hospital.
At several points throughout the pregnancy Helen’s blood pressure was registered as high. As a result she spent time at day centres and in hospital. Helen also suffered kidney infections which caused her significant discomfort.
On 3rd March 2007 a number of bradycardic episodes were noted. At around 5pm Helen was taken to the Labour Ward. She had a high temperature, was on a drop and was being given antibiotics. Her baby’s heart rate was high and at times was above 180bpm.
Helen asked the Registrar to deliver the baby but was told that this was not necessary. She was ill through most of the night. An obstetrician reviewed Helen’s condition and referred her back to the ordinary ward. After a few days she was discharged and a future appointment was booked.
When Helen returned home she noted her baby was quieter than before, but was not too concerned as she had read that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.
Helen remembers starting with contractions on the 8th March. She again attended hospital. The baby’s heart rate dropped considerably at the end of each contraction. After two hours the baby’s heart rate dropped further and did not recover.
When the baby’s heart rate decelerated to 60bpm and there was difficulty detecting a fetal heart rate, an obstetrician made the decision to deliver the baby in an operating theatre under general anaesthetic.
Medical staff performed a caesarean section and a baby boy, Alex, was born. The placenta was found to be gritty as a result of lack of blood supply. Medical staff performed cardiac compressions and Alex was intubated and then transferred to a special care baby unit. Within hours Alex was seen to be twitching and later began to shake and gasp.
The following day, after discussions with the family, intensive care was discontinued. He was disconnected from the ventilator and died around an hour later.
A post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was lack of oxygen (perinatal hypoxia) contributed to by a placenta that was not functioning correctly. An inquest recorded a narrative verdict.
Had delivery been made earlier there was a chance that Alex would have survived.
After negotiations with the defendant, Irwin Mitchell helped Helen settle her case for £30,000 plus costs.
Suzanne Munroe commenting on the case said: “It is very unfortunate in this case that the NHSLA, the NHS Insurers, took an extraordinarily long period of time to settle this case, causing further distress to the family”.