Doctor ‘flees UK’ before inquest into baby’s death

THE PARENTS of a newborn baby who died after a doctor delayed a caesarean section accused her yesterday of ‘getting away with it’ as it appeared she has left the country.

Joanne Rawlings’ baby James was not delivered for more than 24 hours after she went into labour, despite her and a midwife begging for action to be taken.

By that time, the baby’s airway was blocked and he had suffered brain damage, an inquest heard. He died 18 days later from sepsis caused by a bacterial infection common in babies after a prolonged labour.

Ipswich Hospital has already admitted there was a ‘breach of duty’ by delaying the C-section.

But the doctor who made the decision, Indian-born Lovelina Das, who no longer works there, cannot be contacted. The hospital was unable to confirm her whereabouts, although she is thought to be in Belgium. Mrs Heartbroken: Jonathan and Joanne Rawlings with James Rawlings said: ‘I just feel she has got away with it. She should be held accountable.’

The 34-year-old, an assistant manager for a tool firm, went into labour in the early hours of April 27 last year. But by 11pm James had still not been born and an ultrasound was carried out. Mrs Rawlings said she ‘began to feel something was not right’. Midwife Anne Oliver said the couple kept asking for a C- section and that she too made Dr Das aware of her concerns. But Dr Das did not decide to carry out the C-section until 4.50am the next day.

James was born ‘pale and floppy’ and his airway was blocked with meconium, which emerged as a result of stress during birth. It was then around 15 minutes before a registrar cleared the blockage.

Dr Das, who qualified at Manchester University, failed exams to become a trainee specialist and was employed as a registrar’s assistant on a locum basis.

Mrs Rawlings and husband Jonathan, 40, who now have an eight-week-old son Joshua, are planning legal action and will complain to the General Medical Council to try to prevent Dr Das from practising again.

Recording a narrative verdict, Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said: ‘It’s clear earlier intervention would have given James a better chance of survival.’