A British mother and child have won a record payment of £14.6 million in a case of midwifery incomptence. Coming hard of the heels of the release of the Morecambe Bay report, a stunning indictment of UK midwives’ lack of clinical skills and obsession with “normal” (unmedicated, vaginal) birth, it is yet another example of the failure of midwife led care.
According to The Mail Online:
A mother whose son suffered severe brain damage during birth is set to receive potentially the biggest medical negligence payout in history.
The High Court ruled today that United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust must pay in excess of £14.6 million for birth injuries, after failing to carry out a Caesarean section on Suzanne Adams and properly monitor her during labour.
The hospital’s negligence led to her son James Robshaw, now 12, being born with cerebral palsy.
The decision, believed to be one of the most significant in a case of medical negligence and the largest ever such court-ordered award for birth injury, reflects the lifetime care that James needs…
What happened?
Ms Adams was in labour when she was admitted to Lincoln County hospital in 2002.
Although her baby’s heart was monitored after her arrival, midwives either ignored or could not interpret the CTG trace – which detects foetal heart rate – correctly…
The confusion about CTG interpretation and the additional failure to carry out a timely Caesarean section meant there was a delay in delivering James.
Resuscitation procedures were then carried out in the delivery room before he was transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit.
Just as at Morecambe Bay, midwives either didn’t understand or ignored evidence that a baby was in distress.
More stomach churning allegations of midwifery incompetence at Morecambe Bay continue to emerge. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will hold hearings later this month about a midwife, alleging:
That you, whilst employed as a Band 7 Midwife at Furness General Hospital (“the Hospital”) by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) between 15 February 2004 and 10 September 2013:
1) On 25 February 2004 an in relation to Patient A
1.1 Failed to and/or failed to ensure that the fetal heart rate was adequately monitored after 20:15 and up until the time that Patient A’s baby was delivered.
1.2 Failed to request assistance from a Doctor and/or any other suitably qualified medical professional when you had difficulty auscultating the fetal heart.
1.3 Caused distress to Patient A by inappropriately placing Patient A’s baby by her side
1.4 Your conduct contributed to the death of Patient A’s baby and/or caused Patient A’s baby to lose a significant chance of survival.
2) On 6 September 2008 in relation to Patient B
2.1 In relation to Patient B’s pain relief;
i) Advised Patient B that she could not have an epidural
ii) Failed to document your discussions with Patient B regarding pain2.2 Failed to and/or failed to ensure that the fetal heart rate was monitored at 15-30 minute intervals during the first stage of labour …
i) Failed to and/or failed to ensure that continuous electronic fetal monitoring was in place and/or
ii) Failed to and/or failed to ensure that the fetal heart rate was auscultated every 5 minutes …
2.5 Failed to adequately escalate the delay in the second stage of labour to an obstetrician at approximately 20:45
2.6 Your conduct contributed to the death of Patient B’s baby and/or caused Patient B’s baby to lose a significant chance of survival
These are just the most egregious of 15 separate allegations against the midwife.
Both these case are part of a disturbing pattern of injuries to and deaths of babies, questionable midwifery competence, and failure to call for interventions.
UK midwives need to stop pledging allegiance to normal birth and start protecting babies.
