Mother of ‘dates mix-up’ baby in dark over cause of death
The baby was born in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda by Caesarean section 39 days early on July 8 and not August 16, which was her correct due date. The incorrect delivery date had been entered in a file and, despite her mother Therese repeatedly mentioning it to hospital staff, it was not changed.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a narrative verdict, a recitation of medical facts indicating multiple organ failure.
At her family home in Dundalk yesterday, the baby’s mother said she was confused after the inquest.
“We didn’t understand the verdict the coroner gave us _ we had never heard of such a verdict,” she said.
“It is only today (Tuesday) it is making a bit of sense. It (the verdict) was related to how she died — multiple organ failure probably by sepsis. Everything was by probability and, of course, her immaturity was a risk factor,” she said.
Ms Darcy-Lampf said she only got to hold her daughter once. “It was only for a minute. I wish I could turn back the clock, I wish I had shouted louder.”
Jessica was in the special care unit of the Lourdes from birth and she was transferred to Temple Street children’s hospital when she was eight days old to investigate a possible metabolic disorder. None was found.
Both Therese and her husband Conal, who have three boys, are still looking for answers after the death of their daughter. “I feel that we are in a state of limbo, we thought there would have been some sort of conclusion,” she said.
“I feel the coroner could not come up with another verdict, given the evidence, because there was no definite proof of sepsis — it was all on the case of probability,” she said.
“Because it was acknowledged the child was born and the mistake was made I feel some sort of justice was done. I really needed the coroner to say she died because of that. I was devastated yesterday when he didn’t say that.”
She believes that if Jessica was born on her true due date she would be alive. “She suffered for 10 days and, to me, she should not have done,” said Ms Darcy-Lampf.
