Kentish Express Ashford & District
Wife’s death in ward ‘amounted to neglect’
An inquest has found a woman died following neglect from a hospital after giving birth.
Nigerian-born Abimbola Babatola – who previously lived in Ashford with her family – was rushed to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in July last year with a separate issue.
She was transferred to King’s College Hospital in London the next day.
The 39-year-old was heavily pregnant, and three weeks later was given an emergency caesarean section.
Although her daughter, Vivienne, survived, Mrs Babatola, of Park Wood, near Maidstone, died at King’s on Friday, July 31.
Her husband, Oladapo Baba- tola, a doctor, asked lawyers to investigate the care his wife received in London.
The three-day inquest was held at Southwark Coroner’s Court by senior coroner Dr Andrew Harris.
His report states Mrs Babatola died from hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy – a brain injury caused by lack of oxy- gen, collapse after caesarean section, post-partum haemorrhage, and sickle cell disease.
She had been unconscious since Monday, July 13, when she was declared brain dead. She died at 6.24am on July 31.
Just days before the C-section, doctors found Mrs Babatola had suffered from suspected pulmonary embolism – a blockage in her lungs – and was treated with bloodthinning medication.
The coroner concluded her death was caused by natural causes, contributed to by a failure to help her deteriorating condition after her operation in the recovery ward. He said this “amounted to neglect”.
The coroner found an intra- venous tube, which was supposed to be giving her blood after her C-section, was not working.
Before she gave birth, Mrs Babatola had not received a transfusion. She had also been suffering from pains related to her sickle cell disease, caused by blood vessels becoming blocked.
Dr Harris added: “I conclude a failure to escalate her care by 5.30am has contributed to her death on the balance of probabilities.”
“I am satisfied with regard to the omissions that have contributed to her death, which all constitute the provision or procurement of basic medical care.”