Medic accidentally decapitated baby
A SENIOR gynaecologist in the UK who caused a baby to be decapitated in his mother’s womb has been found guilty of medical misconduct and faces being struck off.
Dr Vaishnavy Laxman, 43, ‘failed in her clinical decision-making’, a Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal hearing in Manchester ruled yesterday. The tribunal was told Dr Laxman should have given the 30year-old woman, known as Patient A, an emergency caesarean section because the premature infant was in a breech position. Instead, the doctor tried to carry out the delivery naturally and tragedy struck when she urged the patient to push while herself applying traction to the baby boy’s legs.
The tribunal heard that the legs, arms and torso became detached, leaving the head in the womb. Two other doctors carried out a caesarean section to remove the infant’s head. It was ‘re-attached’ to his body so his mother could say goodbye. It is believed the child was dead before he was decapitated.
During the hearing, Laxman, who qualified in India, said she believed the baby would have died during a caesarean section. In a harrowing exchange, Patient A said: ‘I don’t forgive you – I don’t forgive you.’
The tragedy occurred on March 16, 2014, at a hospital in Dundee.
Chairman Tim Bradbury said: ‘But for Dr Laxman’s error of judgment... the decapitation would not have occurred.’
Dr Laxman said: ‘I was trying to deliver a live baby, I was trying really hard, possibly too hard. I am distraught at the outcome.’
If the tribunal decides her fitness to practise has been impaired, she faces a further hearing and could be struck off.