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Doctor's didn't give my baby a chance



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Published Date:
18 September 2007
HEALTH REPORTER
A HEARTBROKEN mother-to-be today accused the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary of neglect after doctors sent her home just hours before her baby died.
Michelle Forsyth was 33 weeks pregnant with her first child when she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal complication. But the 38-year-old hairdresser was allowed to return home - only for her baby to stop moving just two hours later.

The next morning she returned to the hospital to be told that her baby had died.

She later had to give birth to her dead son in the same department as other new mothers.

Her family believe the hospital should have arranged for an induced labour, or performed a Caesarean birth, to give baby Anthony a "fighting chance". This is common when pre-eclampsia occurs late in the pregnancy.

Ms Forsyth, of Halmyre Street in Leith, said: "The whole experience was devastating.

"I was at the ERI one day and they told me my baby was excitable, strong and full of life. A few days later he was sluggish and I was told I had pre-eclampsia.

"I didn't really know much about this. However, the consultant sent me home and even told me I could return to work.

"But two hours after I left the hospital, I knew my baby had died because I couldn't feel him anymore. The hospital staff confirmed this the following morning and my world collapsed. I had been waiting for many years to have a child. I just can't understand why the consultant sent me home and didn't give me a Caesarean."

She added: "I felt I was safe in the doctors' hands. But I now realise Anthony could have been saved that Monday if they had offered him a fighting chance.

"The hospital is guilty of neglect and I don't want that to happen to anyone else." Ms Forsyth has been comforted throughout her ordeal by mum Maureen and dad David, from Portobello, and her sister Shirley.

The mother-to-be and her family said they raised concerns with senior staff at the ERI after midwives at the Simpson maternity centre "expressed outrage" at what happened.

Each year in the UK, around 1000 babies die as a result of pre-eclampsia, which is characterised by high blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine, and means the baby's placenta is underdeveloped.

The Action on Pre-eclampsia support group today said its guidelines suggested a woman who had been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia should be admitted to hospital for observation and management.

Chief executive Michael Rich said: "Once you have a confirmed diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, we know that it is not going to go away, and while it might rumble on for a period, there is always a chance that it might progress to a crisis very quickly."

Ms Forsyth, who works at Halo Hairdressing in Portobello, originally put off starting a family to concentrate on her career. But after meeting her partner of two-years, Mark Henderson, the pair decided to have a baby.

David Farquharson, women's services clinical director with NHS Lothian, said today: "The death of a baby is always extremely sad and we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Ms Forsyth and her family.

"Ms Forsyth has not made a formal complaint and we cannot discuss individual cases publicly. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with her and I will be writing to Ms Forsyth to invite her to meet with us."

The full article contains 593 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 18 September 2007 8:48 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
 
1

alex paterson,

embra 18/09/2007 11:36:22

This is very sad for the mother to be,The Royal is a very busy place but they made a big mistake here,they must take more care with pregnant mothers.

2

Crank Parent,

http://web.mac.com/morag_davidson 18/09/2007 11:48:03

"Ms Forsyth has not made a formal complaint and we cannot discuss individual cases publicly. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with her and I will be writing to Ms Forsyth to invite her to meet with us."

If Ms Forsyth does make a formal complaint (and I hope she does), she can expect to join a very long queue of people waiting to discuss their cases with the ERI. I personally know several people who are very dissatisfied with the way their complaints are currently being handled.

3

Diana,

Edinburgh 18/09/2007 12:42:30

That's a very serious mistake for that doctor to make, and it should definitely go on his record. How sad for this family.

4

Paul Voltaire,

18/09/2007 14:18:58

Ms Forsyth should take legal advice at the earliest opportunity.
Her treatment sounds thoroughly apalling.

5

Fluffy,

18/09/2007 14:37:33

What an awful story to read! My heart goes out to the family xx

6

JFW,

New Town 18/09/2007 15:08:46

Typical of a rag like EEN. These stories should not be published until an investigation has been carried out. People who don;t know the first thing about it suddenly become medical experts when these unfortunate events occur and the medical staff involved are immediately assumed to be negligent. Sad and all that this is, unfortunately these things happen and often nobody can foresee or do anything about it, which is most likely what happened in this unfortunate situation.
Plus I object to the story trying to imply that she's been particularly hard done by having to give birth to a stillborn child in a maternity unit. This is what happens to all women who miscarry or whose baby dies in the womb. It may be traumatic and I wouldn't wish it on anyone but it is what happens under normal circumstances. It's best not to sensationalize these events until someone who knows about these things has at least looked into the facts.

7

taxidriver,

18/09/2007 15:54:17

#6 why shouldnt this story be printed.if we were to wait till the eri carried out an investigation then my friend we would have a long wait and this news would be history.i know of at least 2 people who are waiting on complaints being dealt with one has been waiting 2 years the other nearly 4 so if printing this poor womans story gets a rocket up somebodys ass and gets an immidiate response then job done i would say.on the other hand if it was your wife or partner that it happened to i bet you wouldny want to keep it quiet either.

8

buttons,

canada 18/09/2007 15:56:48

to JWF #6.......can you then explain that why in these horrendous circumstances should women be put through the trauma of having to deliver their babies naturally ,knowing that they are devastated with no outcome.I personally think they should be given a c section to save them this heartache.From someone who knows.Surely with todays technology there must be an easier way.

9

Dave From Barra,

Western Isles 18/09/2007 16:02:28

This is awful. The poor lass and lad.

10

elayne,

18/09/2007 16:12:30

this is tragic,i hope there is some kind of investigation,my thoughts are with michelle and her family at this sad time

11

elayne,

18/09/2007 16:19:46

there should be more sensitive treatment of mums who have had to go through this type of tragedy,it is traumatic enough without being surrounded by mothers and babies,it is really thoughtless to put women through further agony at times like that,i know hospitals are busy/overstretched etc but a little bit of tact may not go amiss

12

Maisie from Morningside,

Morningside 18/09/2007 17:10:35

When the Evening News doesn't want a story to be taken seriously it uses the extra apostrophe device to show it thinks the story's a pile of nonsense.
Doctor's should read "Doctors"
Got it?
Good.

13

matthew in davao,

davao 18/09/2007 17:48:02

have to agree with #6. we only have the patients word that she had pre-eclampsia. as an r.n. i find it difficult to believe that any doctor or nurse would allow a patient, so diagnosed to go home. however, if it is true, then, there has been gross negligence. i would be interested to hear the outcome of this incident.

14

SMW,

18/09/2007 17:56:21

This is a very sad story and my heart goes out to Michelle and her family. However, as 6 has already said we have only heard one side of the story. Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition but if all appears well with mother and baby it is thought to be safer to allow the pregnancy to continue (with close monitoring) until a later gestation rather than delivering a premature baby who at only 33 weeks will require specialist care and may suffer complications.
No.8 - A CS is a major operation and carried a lot of risks compared to a normal delivery, so as 'cruel' as it may seem it is better for the mother to give birth normally.
I agree that there should be a special room put aside for women going through a still birth. A busy labour ward is not the right atmosphere.
I hope that Michelle and her family get the answers they need as quickly as possible.

15

What a Farce,

Edinburgh 18/09/2007 18:20:36

Also agree with #6 - we only know one side of this story and pre-eclampsia is a particularly difficult condition to diagnose. Many women are referred into hospital with possible pre-eclampsia and various tests would be carried out. If Michelle was indeed diagnosed with full blown pre-eclampsia then I also find it very difficult to believe that she would be sent home - however, in saying that, it is at this time of year that the junior doctors are let loose in ERI to "practice" on the pregnant population! The very fact that Michelle was told it was fine for her to return to work though indicates to me that she did not in fact have an actual diagnosis of pre-eclampsia but that she had some symptoms which would require closer monitoring in the community.

To the person who remarked about the cruelty of a normal delivery of a stillborn baby. Yes, it may seem cruel, but as SMW has already pointed out, C/S is major surgery and has many many more potential complications for the mother, not least the possibility of future infertility which I'm sure would be far more cruel given the circumstances.

Also, as cruel as it may seem to give birth in the same unit where other mothers giving birth to live babies are - there is the same potential for complications in an induction to give birth to a dead baby as there is giving birth to a live one so it is sensible to be in the place where the relevant professionals are on hand. It isn't ideal but it is sensible. The one element which is needlessly cruel is the fact that if these women choose to stay in hospital then they are given a bed on the normal postnatal ward with women with live babies - this is cruel and insensitive and in a hospital that is less than 6 years old, totally unnecessary - the planners really got that one wrong!

I really do feel for Michelle and her partner as I wouldn't wish this on anyone but sometimes, as hard as it is to accept, some things are totally unpreventable and wil

16

Jer,

Atlanta 18/09/2007 18:21:05

Very sad. However, if the docs had any inkling that baby wasn't doing well, they would have acted. Whether or not someone missed an important sign will be determined by any investigation that takes place. Yes, Michelle should have had the option of a cesarian on my opinion, but no, we shouldn't jump to conclusions about whether there was any negligence. Again, very sad tho.

17

thomas,

midlothian 18/09/2007 18:29:47

special rooms are not required in this case.
as the patient neared the end of her term of pregnancy any and all precautions should have been taken. the children of tomorrow are our future.
do medical staff take the hippocratic oath or is it the
hypocrites oath ? we still need to eliminate the dr. harold shipmans of the medical profession. without due diligence by hospital staff simple routines become dangerous.

18

Caora Dubh,

Dachaigh 18/09/2007 20:16:29

"However, the consultant sent me home and even told me I could return to work."

Unless the consultant had assessed the health of the baby thoroughly, the rate at which symptoms had developed, and especially that which the mother reported she was feeling in her womb, the gynae/obstetrician had no justification whatsoever for sending Ms Forsyth home and telling her it was okay to work. I have heard & read about a number of cases in which expectant mothers' own feelings were correct, and those of consultants wrong. To expectant mothers I say: Trust what you are feeling, and don't allow an overworked consultant persuade you that all is okay if the baby is behaving quite differently. The hospital can do a lot more than just another routine check-up if you feel it is needed. And that is your right and more especially your baby's right.

19

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 18/09/2007 21:34:21

~18. Caora Dubh,
1. "Trust what you are feeling"
2. "if the baby is behaving quite differently"
Two valid points Caora, call it Mothers instinct, cal it Mother Nature, Mummy always knows best, however its not clear in this report, if Michelle Forsyth felt something was wrong on the day she was told her Baby was OK, I know that wasn't the case later, at which time it was to late to save her child Anthony.
To have a Baby growing inside you for 8months then nothing, is truly a tragic event, for any woman.
All our condolences to Michelle Forsyth and Mark Henderson, on the loss of their Baby Son Anthony, R.I.P

20

Suzi B,

18/09/2007 22:29:36

As everyone else has said, this is a truly tragic situation for any mother to be in, but to move to the point made about Michelle having to give birth in the same place as other women. Although undoubtedly distressing, there is no practical alternative to this as Michelle would have been considered a high risk pregnancy if she had pre-eclapsia and as such would definitely need to be in labour ward where she could be cared for by midwives. Women with pre-eclapsia are at risk of developing a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation-a bleeding disorder which occurs rapidly and can lead to death by uncontrolled and sometimes uncontrollable bleeding, so you don't want to be too far from the specialists in those circumstances.

21

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 18/09/2007 22:55:20

Gosh Suzi B, I was wondering where you had got to!, nice to see you back, as this topic is one of a fragile nature, I think your comments on subjects like this, are and will be the best input, as are you, or were you not a midwife?

22

Kitti Kat,

18/09/2007 23:25:05

Is #6 an employee of the NHS? What happened to the baby and his mother was awful and it's too bad that the hospital couldn't or wouldn't segregate her from the happier maternity unit. In our hospital, any woman who gives birth to a stillborn baby or one that is either deformed, handicapped ,e tc. is always put in a quiet room . It is pure hell to have to hear newborns who are healthy crying , etc. Very callous of the hospital . And, people should know what happened---it may help save another mom and baby from this horror.

23

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 18/09/2007 23:44:23

~22. Kitti Kat, very good points and ones which I agree entirely, Michelle's distress must have been bad enough, without her having her thinking, or 'shoved-down-her-throat', that she had failed at being a Mother.
This should be addressed by the hospital Management!

24

Suzi B,

18/09/2007 23:51:38

#22 Kitti Kat
Strange as it may seem to anyone who has never lost a baby, some mothers DO want to be cared for in maternity after the loss of their baby.
Those who do say that they can't bear the thought of going to anywhere else in the hospital because they don't feel that they would be treated with the same level of understanding that they would if they were in the maternity department. Obviously, most people wouldn't want to be shoved in an open ward with no privacy to grieve, but neither do they want to be packed off as if their baby didn't exist. I have looked after women who have had their dead baby in the room with them for many hours after the delivery and we always make a point of looking at the baby and pointing out things like hair colour or anything that makes the baby real to everyone. Women who make the choice to stay in the department get a lot of comfort from the normalisation of life and death and I have never had someone say that the sound of other peoples babys crying upset them.

25

Suzi B,

19/09/2007 00:01:48

#23 Charles.
Hi Charles!
I know what you mean when you say about being in maternity as having it shoved down their throat that they 'failed' at being a mother but I think some people feel that being packed off elsewhere in the hospital is like being banished for their 'failure'.
Women are so individual in their way of processing loss that to make an assumption either way would be unfair. Bottom line is that people should have the choice. I know that we had women who made the decision to go to the gynae ward after the birth but a few hours later asked to be moved. I also know women who came to maternity and couldn't wait to get out of there and were discharged as soon as it was safe to do so. Again, women with pre-eclampsia often need specialist midwifery care and close supervision for days after the birth so they don't have a choice, which is unfortunate but unavoidable as it would be a greater tragedy to lose the mother as well as the baby.

26

JFW,

New Town 19/09/2007 10:29:30

Nope #22, I'm not an employee of the NHS and my wife and I suffered 3 miscarriages before successfully having a family, so I think I can claim some objectivity here.
I'm glad to see only a few people have jumped to conclusions here given the blatent one-sided sensationalist reporting (with the OTT picture). This sort of story should not reach the media until it has been proven the NHS has been negligent.

27

Gems,

Edinburgh 19/09/2007 19:55:23

I think the hospital or doctors made a big mistake in sending michelle home whatever side you want to look at it from.
For the baby to be dead just two hours later there must have been something really wrong and signs of this.
Huge respect for bringin this up michelle, very brave... hopefully you'll stop this happening to others in the same position.
Our hearts go out to you michelle and I for one hope you get the answers you are after

28

What a Farce,

19/09/2007 20:57:01

To Gems: I presume you are a doctor or a midwife and have some inside knowledge on the case because otherwise how would you know that the doctors actually made a mistake?

"For the baby to be dead just two hours later there must have been something really wrong and signs of this."

What signs would they be then? You obviously know more than the doctors. Don't get me wrong. I'm not defending the particular doctors in this case or doctors in general but people who have no specific knowledge of this case have no right to come on here and comment on whether or not anyone was right or wrong.

And if doctors were to admit EVERY women who turned up with pre-eclampsia type symptoms then there would be mass overcrowding and an even worse bed crisis than there is already!

The article doesn't say the baby died two hours later, it says that she didn't feel her baby move two hours later - babies do not move 24 hours a day and they actually sleep for several hours so it's actually impossible to know at what point Michelle's baby died.

Totally agree with #26 - sensationalist reporting like this actually cheapens what is in fact a very sad story.

29

smw2b,

england 19/09/2007 21:05:15

My heart goes out to the family BUT why didn't she go to hospital later in the day when she couldn't feel her baby moving??? Why wait till the next day, the maternity units are open 24 hours a day for such reasons.
A very sad story :-(

smw2b

30

"Scotty",

19/09/2007 21:21:39

This is a travesty; my heart goes out to the family. The doctor concerned should most certainly be made accoutable for his horrendous error in judgement. After all, they are the doctors; they are supposed to help their patients. I can't imagine him telling the mother she could go back to work. I am so very sorry for this young family.


 

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