Baby died after mum’s abortion bid
A premature baby died at Medway Maritime Hospital after her mother attempted to abort her.
The 19-year-old, who is thought to have given a false name to hospital staff, gave birth to the baby at 20 weeks into her pregnancy.
She arrived at hospital where doctors decided it was in the mother’s best interest to medically induce labour because she was suffering from a traumarelated infection. The baby died a few hours later. Police carried out inquiries but decided it was not in the public interest to arrest the woman, or her male friend who accompanied her to the hospital and is believed to be the father, despite their efforts to abort the baby illegally.
An inquest into the death in August 2016 was held at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone last week.
It was originally thought the baby was stillborn but midwives found a heartbeat.
Due to how early the baby was born, hospital staff were unable to intervene for legal reasons, so a midwife sat with her until she died a few hours later.
Police officers who visited the mother’s flat found evidence that an attempt at an illegal abortion had been carried out.
The court heard the mother had tried to have a legal abortion on two occasions but was told she needed a GP referral or to pay for it privately.
DI Ed Ruffle, who led the team investigating the death, said: “She was one of the most vulnerable women I have ever met.
“The mother and father knew they couldn’t be parents and didn’t have the facilities to cope.”