The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Mum in call for law to recognise stillborn babies
Parent of infant decapitated during delivery raises petition demanding legal change to give rights to tragic children
A heartbroken Dundee mother whose baby was decapitated during a botched delivery has launched a new campaign demanding stillborn children are given legal rights.
Tests showed Laura Gallazzi’s son Steven had died in the womb before the bungled attempt was made to deliver him naturally at Ninewells Hospital in March 2014.
Ms Gallazzi, 34, believes she should have been given an emergency Caesarean section as Steven was in breech position and blames gynaecologist Dr Vaishnavy Laxman for her son’s death.
But her demands for a criminal probe or fatal accident inquiry have been frustrated because Steven never drew breath and has therefore been classed as a stillborn.
She reportedly said: “Babies are classed as stillborn because they haven’t taken a breath, but how could my Steven take a breath? He was decapitated.”
Ms Gallazzi added: “Steven was weeks – past the cut-off for abortion. 25
“So, of course he is a person, just like every stillborn who has died in hospital.
“Yes there can be mistakes but when there is suspected criminality there should be a thorough legal investigation into their death.”
Tests showed Steven died before he had been decapitated.
A hearing criticised Dr Laxman for having failed to carry out an emergency Caesarean section but did not strike her off.
She is currently working in India. Ms Gallazzi’s petition has received nearly 500 signatures so far.
In the online petition she states: “Every baby deserves to be classed as a person with a legal persona and therefore entitled to a thorough legal investigation into their death to ensure no criminal acts have taken place.
“There are loads of other cases I’ve read about where blunders have taken place in hospitals resulting in the death of babies but nothing can be done and no one is held accountable because they are classed as stillborn.”