WARNING: this post refers to graphic material and may be triggering for some readers
It’s every expectant mother’s worst nightmare – we can not even imagine the grief for every person involved in this tragic case.
Following an allegedly bungled delivery, a 30-year-old woman has had her baby decapitated during labour, while it was still in her womb.
Dr Vaishnavy Laxman, 41, who should have given the woman an emergency C-section upon realising the baby was in the breech position, instead allegedly decided to proceed with a natural delivery, The Guardian reports.
The incident is now being presented to in front of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester.
Traction was applied to the infant’s legs while Dr Laxman urged the young woman to push, which resulted in the baby’s legs, arms and torso detaching from its head.
After the decapitation took place, two doctors performed a c-section to remove the infant’s head from the mother’s womb.
In what was called an act of “compassion”, the head of the little boy was then reattached so the mother could say goodbye to her son.
“I would never use the word stillborn; he was not stillborn, he was decapitated.”
The woman – who is referred to only as ‘Patient A’ throughout the hearing was holding two teddy bears as she gave evidence to the tribunal service.
“I was not given gas and air – I was in pain. I had the doctors putting their hands inside me and I had them pushing on my stomach and then pulling me down,” she told the tribunal.
“I tried to get off the bed but they pulled me back three times and just said they had to get the baby out. They twice tried to cut my cervix and nobody told me they were going to do it. There was no anaesthetic. I said to them ‘it doesn’t feel right, stop it, what’s going on, I don’t want to do it’, but nobody responded to me in any way.”
She told the hearing: “I would never use the word stillborn; he was not stillborn, he was decapitated.”
She then told Dr Laxman that she did not forgive her for her mistake.
Dr Laxman denies contributing to the death of the baby boy.
The doctor’s lawyer made a public apology on her behalf.
“Dr Laxman has asked me to say she is so very sorry and deeply saddened for the outcome of your baby. She did not intend to harm you or harm your baby and she offers her apologies in every possible way. She hopes at some point in time that will make you feel in a way, slightly better.”
The hearing continues.
