Scathing report on ‘twins’ op blunder
The medics needlessly cut through the walls of the woman’s abdomen looking for the supposed second baby at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, the independent report will show.
The Irish Examiner has learned that the report, written by experts, including one of the country’s most senior obstetricians, criticises:
* A number of failures in systems at the hospital where the mother was screened throughout her pregnancy.
* The failure to scan the woman’s womb, in accordance with best medical practice, before it was decided to carry out an emergency caesarean to find the ‘second baby’.
The mother, from Kilkenny city, is taking legal action against the hospital.
She has been deeply traumatised by the incident and by the manner in which the news appeared in the media without her knowledge and by newspapers’ attempts to identify her.
It is understood a copy of the report has been given to the woman and her husband. She was told throughout her pregnancy she was carrying twins and words to that effect appeared on her medical notes.
When the first-time mother gave birth late last year, doctors decided to perform an emergency caesarian to remove the other baby.
The fact that she was only carrying one child was not spotted despite ultrasounds and regular check-ups during the pregnancy.
Once the mistake was highlighted, an independent probe was commissioned. The high-level investigation will be highly critical of the manner in which the woman was dealt with in the hospital’s maternity unit.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said it had to have due regard to a process of consultation which was not yet complete.
“In light of those ongoing circumstances, no comment will be made by the executive in relation to the subject covered,” the statement added.
The inquiry was headed by Martin Hynes, former chief executive of the Blood Transfusion Service and a former South Eastern Health Board official. The other authors were Dr Jack Gallagher, consultant obstetrician, Waterford, and Pauline Traynor, director of midwifery/nursing at Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital.
