A baby died when a doctor accidentally made a two-inch deep cut into his skull during a caesarean section at Nottingham City Hospital.
Carson Allen suffered a haemorrhage after the mistake and died three hours after he was born at the hospital July 3, 2013.
An inquest into his death concluded in July 2014, recording a verdict of accidental death. Carson’s family later launched legal action against the hospital, which has apologised and admitted liability.
His mother, Claire Smith, 41, of Top Valley, says she has spent the past four years demanding answers from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital. Her clinical negligence claim has now been settled for an undisclosed sum.
She said: “It has been the worst experience of my life and I doubt my family will ever get over our loss. I didn’t just fight this for Carson – I did this for other babies, parents and families. I hope that others don’t have to lose something so precious in such a traumatic way.”
She had previously undergone a gynaecological procedure in October 2011, known to cause complications such as early rupture of membranes and pre-term birth, meaning pregnancy should be avoided following such a procedure.
However, the trust has accepted that Miss Smith was not properly advised of the risks.
She went into labour when 33 weeks pregnant in 2013, and doctors decided an emergency caesarean section was the only option.
The procedure that Miss Smith underwent in 2011 should have alerted doctors to this being a high-risk pregnancy.
The inquest was told there were several missed opportunities to establish a full medical history or check Miss Smith’s medical records properly.
Had staff been aware of Miss Smith’s medical history, a consultant would have performed the caesarean section rather than a registrar.
Miss Smith said: “I found the inquest very difficult and have spent the past four years thinking this was my fault. I thought the cut on Carson’s head was because of the procedure I had in 2011 – it wasn’t until the result of the post mortem examination that I found out it was caused by a scalpel.
“As if losing my baby wasn’t enough, I have been put through hell fighting for the reassurance that I could not have prevented my baby son’s death.
“From start to finish, my care was absolutely horrendous. For Carson’s life to end in the way it did is unacceptable. During my c-section, the doctor cut my baby’s head so deeply that he died. I am a good mum and the chance to be a mum to Carson was taken away from me.”
Baishali Clayton of Nelsons Solicitors, who acted on behalf of Miss Smith at both the inquest and during the civil claim, said: “Injury to a baby during a caesarean section is a known, but rare, complication and in this case the laceration was much more severe than what would normally be seen.
“I have no doubt the hospital staff will have been very shocked by the circumstances of this case and I understand steps have been taken to prevent this situation from happening again to anybody else.
“This was a very tragic case. What happened to Claire and Carson should never have occurred and although nothing will bring Carson back, I do hope Claire and her family are now able to seek some closure.”
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said the care Miss Smith received during her pregnancy was not up to standard.
Dr Lucy Kean, head of service for obstetrics and gynaecology at the trust, said: “We reiterate the trust’s condolences to the family on the death of their son, Carson, and apologise for the shortfalls in our care, mindful that no words or amount of money can undo the harm and distress the family have experienced as a result of this case.”
