The Chronicle

Midwife ignored mother’s request – court

- — Sarah Motherwell

A MIDWIFE ignored a Queensland mother’s request for a caesarean because “women say a lot of things when they’re distressed with pain”, an inquest has heard.

Nixon Tonkin died of “catastroph­ic injuries” shortly after he was born at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in June 2014 at 38 weeks gestation.

The baby’s skull was fractured when a midwife attempted to free his head from the birth canal during a caesarean.

The inquest into his death heard yesterday that a different midwife, Chloe Simpson, ignored mother Simone Tonkin’s request for a caesarean while she was being induced.

“Women say a lot of things when they’re distressed with pain,” Ms Simpson said.

“She said a few times ‘Like I’m over it’.”

Mrs Tonkin did not raise the issue after she was given morphine and agreed to be taken back to the ward.

Ms Simpson did not tell anyone else at the hospital about Mrs Tonkin’s request but would have if she “demanded” it.

The inquest continues.

 ?? PHOTO: AAP ?? SHATTERED: Simone Tonkin reacts as she and her husband Martin Tonkin arrive at the Coroner's Court in Brisbane yesterday for the coronial inquest into the death of their baby Nixon Tonkin, who died at 38 weeks gestation from serious head injuries...
PHOTO: AAP SHATTERED: Simone Tonkin reacts as she and her husband Martin Tonkin arrive at the Coroner's Court in Brisbane yesterday for the coronial inquest into the death of their baby Nixon Tonkin, who died at 38 weeks gestation from serious head injuries...

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