Paediatrician accused of failing to order head cooling treatment for baby

A consultant paediatrician has been accused of poor professional performance for allegedly failing to order a head cooling treatment for a baby that was subsequently left with brain damage.

Dr Mohammad Ilyas Khan was working as a locum consultant paediatrician at South Tipperary General Hospital in June 2012 when the alleged incident occurred.

It is alleged Dr Khan failed to order a cooling treatment for a baby that was deprived oxygen at birth.

Head-cooling treatment is used to lessen the chance of brain damage resulting from oxygen deprivation during birth.

Current protocols require cooling to begin within a maximum of six hours after birth and suggest that cooling as early as possible is the ideal. A lack of oxygen around the time of birth can result in cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and epilepsy.

It is alleged Dr Khan told the parents the baby was fine in circumstances where he knew, or ought to have known, that was not the case. It is also alleged he failed to arrange for the transfer of the baby to another hospital for cooling treatment.

The inquiry heard the baby, referred to a Patient BT, is two years old and has cerebral palsy.

He attends the central remedial clinic and receives occupational, physical and speech therapy.

His mother, Noelle Tobin, told the inquiry she has not returned to work as a teacher since he was born due to the amount of care he needs. The couple also have twin girls aged four.

Ms Tobin said she was admitted to South Tipperary General Hospital in June 2012 but her pregnancy was not progressing so she was artificially induced.

The baby’s heart rate dropped dramatically and she was brought to an emergency theatre.

“There were no hugs and kisses when he was born, he was taken from me straight away,” she said.

Ms Tobin said she woke up several hours later and was told her baby was in the special care unit. When she visited the baby the next day, she said he was irritable, kept crying and “looked terrible”.

“He was not doing what you would expect a newborn to do. I just knew something wasn’t right,” she said.

Ms Tobin’s sister, who is a medical professional, noticed the baby was on anti epileptic drugs and asked Dr Khan why cooling treatment for the baby was not considered.

Ms Tobin said she was told by Dr Khan the baby did not require cooling treatment as he did not meet the criteria.

Ms Tobin said she was growing concerned about the baby’s condition and told Dr Khan she wanted the baby to be transferred to Holles street for the cooling treatment.

She said Dr Khan told her the baby “could deteriorate in transit.”

The baby had seizures upon arriving at Holles street hospital and the parents were told he might die.

Ms Tobin was told they could see brain damage on his MRI scan and he had a high risk of cerebral palsy and a low risk of intellectual disability.

“Instead of receiving congratulations cards when I returned home with my son, I was reading about what disability allowances and services we would need,” said Ms Tobin.

“Every milestone my son has reached has required blood, sweat and tears on me and my family’s behalf,” she said.

Ms Tobin became emotional as she said her son learned to walk before his 2nd birthday, but he is unsteady and may need to wear a helmet when he goes to school.

The baby’s father Liam Tobin told the inquiry there was “pandemonium, chaos . . . all hell breaking loose” at the hospital at the time of his wife giving birth.

Mr Tobin said, although it was an “eventful delivery”, he had no reason for concern at the time and assumed the medical team had done all they could for the baby.

He said he thought his wife’s sister was over reacting when she expressed concerns at the baby’s treatment at hospital because he thought the baby would be okay.

Mr Tobin said he was “shocked” when doctors at Holles Street told him the baby might not survive and would be at risk of disability.

The inquiry continues on Friday.