A complaint was filed against a Georgia hospital and other parties involved in the birth of a woman who claims her newborn was decapitated last month during delivery, as CNN reported.
Decapitated Infant?
According to the lawsuit issued in Clayton County, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 9, Southern Regional Medical Center allegedly tried to keep the baby's cause of death a secret from the mother, Jessica Ross, 20, and her boyfriend, Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr. The family attorney confirmed that the infant, who was given his father's name, was born healthy and at full term.
The reason for the infant's death has not been made public by the county medical examiner's office. Brian Byers, head of the office, told CNN that they are still trying to finish the autopsy on the baby.
The claim states that Ross went into labor on July 9 and that her doctor made many attempts to vaginally deliver the baby, including placing traction on the baby's head.
The complaint alleges that the baby's shoulders were trapped in the vaginal canal, a condition known as shoulder dystocia, which prevented the baby's descent during the attempted birth.
The doctor "failed to practice according to medical standards," the lawsuit states. The suit also asserts that the doctor "grossly" and "negligently" applied excessive traction on the baby's head and neck and failed to perform a Cesarean section at the appropriate time.
Hospital workers allegedly informed Ross and Taylor they could not see or hold their newborn, as stated in a statement sent by a family spokesman. The hospital only let the young parents see their deceased kid once.
"During this viewing, their baby was wrapped tightly in a blanket with his head propped on top of his body in a manner such that those viewing him could not identify that he had been decapitated," the statement reads.
The lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks compensation for the loss of the baby's life, including loss of future wages, funeral and burial expenses, and mental anguish.
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Hospital's Response
Southern Regional Medical Center sent a statement to CNN on Wednesday afternoon denying the charges made against it in the legal action.
For reasons of patient confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Southern Regional Medical Center declined to comment on the care and treatment of individual patients.
"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. Our commitment is to provide compassionate, quality care to every single patient, and this loss is heartbreaking."
The statement added that the delivering doctor was not a hospital employee. The facility said it has done all its power to address this serious matter.
