HSE apologises at inquest into Limerick baby’s death

A jury at the inquest into the death of a baby girl who died at the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick six years ago has returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

The verdict in relation to baby Caoimhe Mulcair, who was born to Joan and John Mulcair, from Corbally, Limerick on February 11th, 2009, but died after 39 minutes, was in line with a recommendation from coroner John McNamara.

It followed a courtroom apology from the Health Service Executive for the failings in the care provided to baby Caoimhe and the stress and pain caused to her family.

The apology from Collette Cowan, chief executive of the local hospital group, was sent to the Mulcair family two days ago, over six years after Caoimhe’s death.

Evidence given to the inquest indicated a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the baby’s brain and the inquest was also told one doctor noted the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck after birth.

However, staff who treated Ms Mulcair denied the family’s contention that the trace of the foetal heartbeat was misinterpreted and a pathologist told the inquest no anatomical cause of death could be established.

Ms Mulcair said she and her husband married in 2005 and tried to start a family immediately. However, she had fertility issues and needed in vitro fertilisation (IVF). This worked on the first go and she became pregnant, with a due date in February 2009.

The pregnancy went well with no incidents and the couple were very excited about their impending arrival, given they had been trying for so long. “Caoimhe was desperately wanted and deeply loved even before she was born,” she told the inquest.

She said the couple had a video scan taken of their baby girl in the womb, showing her kicking around, “but it’s all we have left of her now”.

Ms Mulcair said she experienced pains and cramps on February 11th, 2009, was rushed to hospital around 6pm, and immediately admitted. She was seen by Dr Mary Higgins who said she was thinking of doing a Caesarean section but decided against it.

She was taken to the labour ward where she experienced excruciating pain. She asked for an epidural but it was refused. Dr Higgins returned and baby Caoimhe was born at 7:46pm. She was very happy to have given birth, but Caoimhe wasn’t crying and all of a sudden there was a huge panic and she was transported to the special care unit.

Ms Mulcair said she didn’t know what was happening but after a time she and her husband were brought to the unit. “Caoimhe was still alive. She looked so fragile and delicate,” she recalled.

She picked her baby up, but Caoimhe died in her arms. Ms Mulcair said she couldn’t believe what has happening: “We couldn’t believe this was happening to us. The hurt and sorrow over comes you, you’re never the same person again.”

Caoimhe was buried on February 16th, her father’s birthday, she said.

Obstetric registrar Mary Higgins recalled meeting Ms Mulcair in admissions. Her top was covered in vomit from the contractions and she had a low foetal heartbeat. Dr Higgins said she might carry out a Caesarean section if this persisted.

Dr Higgins agreed with Lorraine Scully, barrister, for the Mulcairs, that the foetal trace at this time was not normal, but said it had to be seen in context, given Ms Mulcair’s age and medical history. “It was not a normal trace but not so pathological as to warrant immediate delivery. We don’t want to rush someone to theatre for an operation they don’t need.”

Midwife Patricia Lenihan, who was working on the labour ward when Ms Mulcair was admitted, acknowledged the trace of Caoimhe’s heartbeat showed decelerations of her heartbeat.

Ms Scully described the trace as “non-reassuring” and said the decelerations were evidence of foetal stress which were not interpreted correctly at the time.

However, Ms Lenihan said Ms Mulcair’s delivery had progressed well and the decelerations were consistent with the descent of the baby’s head in a first-time birth.

She said she was very surprised at the outcome. “We see traces like this all the time and we don’t have outcomes like we had with baby Caoimhe.”