Doctor is cleared of misconduct

A doctor who caused the decapitation of a baby after deciding on the wrong method of delivery has been cleared of misconduct by a medical tribunal.

Dr Vaishnavy Vilvanathan Laxman proceeded with a regular delivery with a 30-year-old first-time mother who was 25 weeks pregnant at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in March 2014.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MTPS) panel said “the only appropriate course” was a caesarean section as the baby was in the breech position, with a prolapsed cord and low heart rate, and the mother’s cervix was less than 4cm dilated.

The baby’s head became trapped during the birth and various techniques were tried to free it, but during this his “head became detached from his body”. MTPS said he had died before this happened.

On Tuesday, the tribunal cleared Dr Laxman of misconduct and said her fitness to practise was not impaired.

It ruled the decision to proceed with a natural birth was “negligent and fell below the standards ordinarily to be expected” but did not amount to serious misconduct.