An American couple is suing an obstetrician and a hospital after their baby died in a “nightmare” birth, alleging a cover-up after their son was decapitated while being delivered with “ridiculously excessive force”.
Jessica Ross and Treveon Taylor have accused Dr Tracey St Julian of applying “traction to the baby’s head” – when he became stuck in the birth canal – and breaking his neck and severing his head in the process.
They claim that medical staff at the Southern Regional Medical Centre, Georgia, not only failed to report the incident, but attempted to cover it up by wrapping the infant’s body in a blanket and propping up his head to make it appear as though it were still attached.
The Telegraph reports that the couple only found out what had happened to their baby four days after his death on 9 July while making arrangements at a crematorium, where funeral home staff told them about the child’s decapitation, it is alleged.
The Medical Examiner’s office and local police were made aware of the incident at the same time.
Roderick Edmond, a lawyer representing the parents, alleged the doctor had used “ridiculously excessive force” during the birth.
“…. trying to deliver the baby, (she) pulled on the baby’s head and neck so hard, and manipulated them so hard, the bones of the baby’s skull, face and neck were broken.
“When the womb was opened, the feet came out, the body came out, and there was no head.”
Edmond said Southern Regional staff tried to cover up the decapitation by discouraging the couple from getting a post-mortem examination, encouraging them to have their son cremated, and wrapping and propping his body to make it appear that the head were still attached.
Several nurses are also accused of gross negligence for allegedly failing to follow the correct medical procedures after the tragedy.
Prime Healthcare Services, which owns the hospital, described the loss as “heartbreaking” and said St Julian was not an employee. It claimed to have “taken the appropriate steps in response to this unfortunate situation”.
The Telegraph had not received comment from the doctor at the time of publication.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Motsoaledi counsels caution over ‘decapitated’ baby birth
UK gynaecologist before medical tribunal after bungled delivery decapitates baby