Baby boy’s 'preventable' death has changed couple’s life 'forever', inquest hears

Baby Noah O’Shea Rogers died in April 2020 at Wexford General Hospital. File photo: P.J. Browne

An inquest has heard how a couple’s life has been changed “forever” because of their baby boy’s “preventable” death.

Shane Rodgers gave an emotional statement at the start of baby Noah O’Shea Rodgers’ inquest at Wexford Coroner’s Court in Gorey on Tuesday morning. In it, he spoke of the couple’s anger that a serious high blood pressure condition was not diagnosed sooner and a plan put in place to deliver their son sooner.

He also spoke of the fact that Noah’s mother Claire O’Shea was on “so many medications”, and they spoke of the “terrible attitude” of a doctor who “abruptly” told Ms O'Shea that Noah was dead before he just walked away. They also referenced a number of times when they had expected to see a consultant but that this did not happen.

They spoke of discovering they were going to have their first child in October 2019 and that the news Ms O'Shea was pregnant came shortly after the couple had only just got engaged. ”We could not have been happier for the journey we were to begin together,” her husband Mr Rodgers said.

He said that during one of several appointments they had in Wexford General Hospital shortly after getting the good news, the couple had mentioned a family history of preeclampsia — which can develop in pregnancy.

“We are extremely hurt and angry that a preeclampsia diagnosis was not made until late in the pregnancy,” he said. ”We feel that if a diagnosis was made earlier and a plan put in place to manage the condition, Noah’s life may well have been saved. Noah was a much wanted and loved baby.” 

He said that “to ensure he arrived safely” the couple “repeatedly” monitored Ms O'Shea's blood pressure at home and made sure to attend Wexford General Hospital when it got dangerously elevated.

“Claire continued to have high blood pressure readings which should have resulted in a medical review,” he said. 

However, Claire was not seen by a doctor despite two blood pressure readings indicating that a review was required.

He also said that on the night Noah died, the midwife on night duty made Ms O'Shea her priority after she “was concerned Claire was on so many medications to treat high blood pressure”.

Mr Rodgers said that when Claire woke up in theatre after an emergency caesarean section on the night of April 24, 2020, she asked the doctor “Where is Noah?”.

Mr Rodgers said: “The doctor replied rather abruptly [and said] ‘he is dead, Claire’, and then walked away from Claire. This was already a very traumatic time for Claire and it was further compounded by the terrible attitude and choice of words used by the doctor.

“Our lives have changed forever following Noah’s preventable death.” He added: “There has been, and continues to be great strain on our relationship at times.

“We believe that this is solely as a result of Noah’s death. “Had Noah been cared for appropriately he would have been delivered safely, and the mental health issues we continue to suffer from would have been prevented.” 

The inquest continues.