Baby’s death unavoidable

A coroner ruled the death of new-born baby at the Royal Oldham Hospital following a rare complication at birth was unavoidable.

Baby Mohammed Ibrahim had a caesarean section birth on March 9, 2012, after a forceps delivery failed. He died the next day from a brain injury caused by a traumatic birth.

After a three-day inquest, senior coroner Simon Nelson recorded a narrative verdict.

Mohammed had bleeding on his brain, which led to the loss of half the volume of blood in his body. He also had bruises and multiple fractures on his head.

Dr Stephen Walkinshaw, a retired consultant in obstetrics, said the haemorrhaging alone may not have caused death, but if baby Mohammed had survived, he may have had some disabilities.

Doctors tried vacuum suction cups to deliver the baby five times (against a recommended three), then forceps, then a caesarian section - the last of those the most dangerous form of delivery for the mother

Dr Walkinshaw said he believed suction cups weren’t applied in the right position on the baby’s head, but suggested doctors did the best they could in the circumstances of the delivery process.

He added: “Most of us would regard that as a genuine clinical mistake.” Haemorrhaging, he added, could still occur even without the suction cups.

Mr Nelson said: “Subject to further views, baby Mohammed died on March 10 from injuries arising from recognised complications.

“The care that was afforded to Mohammed was given with the absolute best of intentions so as to achieve a successful delivery and birth.”