‘Intimidated medics failed suicidal mother’
A MOTHER who jumped off a cliff with her newborn daughter was failed by medics because she was “articulate” and “middle class”, a review has found.
Charlotte Bevan, 30, left St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol with four-day-old Zaani in December 2014.
Ms Bevan had stopped taking antipsychotic medication in order to breastfeed. Search teams later located the bodies of the mother and baby in the Avon Gorge. They both suffered fatal injuries consistent with a fall.
Avon coroner Maria Voisin later found a “chain of failures” in Ms Bevan’s care contributed to the two deaths.
A serious case review by Bristol Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB), concluded that there were eight findings in relation to the case.
One was that professionals may have been intimidated by Ms Bevan, described as “unpredictable and hostile”. “When confronted with this unpre- dictability or hostility, many professionals ‘backed off ’ from the confrontation, leaving the issue for another time or another professional to handle,” the report states.
“This was compounded by what case group members described as Charlotte Bevan’s intelligence and assertiveness. One professional described Charlotte Bevan as ‘middle class’ and ‘articulate’. This made it more difficult for professionals to identify the potential risk. When challenged by professionals, Charlotte Bevan was able to counter their suggestions with cogent arguments.”
On one occasion, Ms Bevan refused support from a children’s centre, saying she had lots of friends with babies.
She initially wished to have a home water birth, which was impractical as she lived in a crowded third-floor flat.
However, the midwife did not persistently challenge this, as she believed Ms Bevan may change her mind.
“In fact, Charlotte Bevan’s mental health and the consequent risks to the unborn child should have been the priority,” the report added.
Sally Lewis, BSCB chair, said there was not “one act or omission” that would have realistically prevented the deaths.
“If all the recommendations were in place we believe that would have made it preventable,” she added.
Ms Lewis said professionals were “inappropriately focused” on the needs of Ms Bevan and not baby Zaani.
The report found opportunities were missed for professionals to be supported to identify and tackle child protection issues.