A woman has filed a lawsuit against a hospital after her baby was allegedly “decapitated” during delivery.
Jessica Ross was taken to the emergency room at the Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale on July 9, after her water broke at around 10am FOX Atlanta reported. At 8.40pm delivery began.
The baby is said to have shoulder dystocia while being delivered, the lawsuit says. This means it could not fit through the pelvic area.
Dr. Tracey St. Julian reportedly attempted to deliver the baby vaginally using different methods, including applying traction to the baby’s head.
Roderick Edmond, one of Ross’ attorneys spoke during a news conference. He said: “In the process of trying to deliver this baby pulled on the head and neck so hard, and manipulated them so hard, that the bones in the baby’s skull face and neck were broken.”
At around 11.50pm, the lawsuit claims the doctor decided to attempt a STAT Cesarean section. The baby’s body and legs were delivered at 12:11am with the baby’s head delivered vaginally.
The lawsuit claims Dr St. Julian failed to tell Ross and her family about the decapitation. It also claims medics hospital staff dscouraged Ross and the baby’s father, Treveon Taylor, from seeking an autopsy.
Instead it claims they were told to have their son cremated in lieu of taking him to a funeral home.
A report into the alleged decapitation was never made to the authorities, claims Cory Lynch, an attorney for Ross. The death was flagged by a funeral home, he said.
“They did everything in their power to not let the family know what happened,” Lynch said.
In addition, the lawsuit claims St. Julian, who is also named, “grossly negligently applied excessive traction on Treveon Isiah Taylor Jr.’s head and neck and grossly negligently failed to do a Cesarean section in a timely and proper manner, resulting in Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr.’s decapitation and death.”
The hospital told Fox News it was unable to discuss the care and treatment of patients, citing patient privacy laws.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those impacted by this tragic event. Our prayers also remain with the dedicated team of physicians, nurses and staff at Southern Regional Medical Center who cared for this patient,” the hospital said in a statement.
“While our sympathies go out to the family, Southern Regional Medical Center denies the allegations in the Complaint referencing the hospital. Since this matter is in litigation, we cannot provide additional statements. As far as Dr. St Julian, she is not an employee of the hospital. The hospital has taken the appropriate steps in response to this unfortunate situation.”
The complaint is seeking unspecified damages for the full value of the baby’s life, including loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.
