Horrif ic death of baby ‘as doctor bungled delivery’
A BABY boy was decapitated during a bungled delivery at a Scottish hospital, a medical tribunal has heard.
The shocking incident happened when the consultant gynaecologist in charge wrongly decided against performing a caesarean section when the unborn child’s heartbeat dropped, it is alleged.
Dr Vaishnavy Laxman, 41, instead tried to pull the baby, who was in breech, out by his legs after his mother’s waters broke at 25 weeks.
The baby’s head became stuck and he was decapitated as the medic tried to manipulate it through the mother’s cervix.
Two other doctors subsequently carried out a C-section to remove the infant’s head, which was reattached to his body so his mother could hold him and say goodbye.
At a hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, Dr Laxman denied contributing to the baby’s death. She faces being struck off if found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
In a highly charged exchange, the baby’s mother – known only as Patient A – told Dr Laxman: ‘I don’t forgive you.’
She looked away as Dr Laxman’s barrister apologised on her behalf.
The hearing was told that the tragedy happened on March 16, 2014 while Dr Laxman was working at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.
The woman’s waters had broken 15 weeks early and an examination revealed the umbilical cord was coming out of the uterus ahead of the baby.
He was also in a breech position with his feet coming out first and medics realised the baby needed to be delivered quickly if he was to stand any chance of survival. But despite the baby’s prematurity and position, Dr Laxman opted against a C-section in favour of a natural delivery.
Patient A told the panel it was her first pregnancy and she had no idea what was going on.
She said: ‘I had been for a scan the previous Friday and was told my son was breech. The nurse told me that if anything happened to my son it was going to be a C-section.
‘But when I was taken to the labour suite nobody told me what was happening. I was told to push. I was in pain.
‘I tried to get off the bed but they pulled me back three times and said they had to get the baby out.
‘There was no anaesthetic. I said to them, “It doesn’t feel right, stop it, what’s going on, I don’t want to do it” but nobody responded.
‘Afterwards, the sister told me my son had passed away. Dr Laxman sat on the side of my bed and said how sorry she was for what happened but I didn’t know the full extent at that point.
‘I just said, “It’s all right, these things happen, I forgive you.” She went away but I started screaming when I found out the full extent. I would never use the word stillborn, he was not stillborn, he was decapitated. Nobody explained the plan or risks. It was disorganised chaos, I was scared.’
Midwife Mona Chard said another medic told her Dr Laxman had decided against a C-section. ‘I saw her pull the baby’s feet and cord and she told the patient to push,’ the midwife said. ‘That is something you can- not forget. Patient A was very distressed.’
The hearing was told the woman was given the painkiller co-codamol before she was examined but nothing during the delivery itself.
Charles Garside, QC, representing the General Medical Council, said: ‘She [Dr Laxman] failed to perform a caesarean without general anaesthetic at a time when speed was needed.
‘The baby had a heartbeat, it was slow, but it was not dead. The choice was taken by Dr Laxman... and this was the wrong choice.
‘New babies are fragile but this tiny baby was more fragile, and being pulled or twisted could do a lot more damage.’
Gerard Boyle, QC, representing Dr Laxman, told the mother: ‘Dr Laxman has asked me to say she is very sorry and deeply saddened for the outcome of your baby.’
The hearing continues.
‘This was the wrong choice’