Couple whose baby died 15 days after her birth settle against National Maternity Hospital

The court heard that the mother had been born premature as her own mother had pre-eclampsia and she was anxious about it. Unfortunately, counsel said, history repeated itself for the young mother.

All of the claims were denied and the National Maternity Hospital contended the obstetric care and the antenatal care provided was appropriate and consistent with an acceptable standard of care for an Irish maternity hospital in 2021. File pic: Billy Higgins

A couple who had only 15 days with their newborn daughter before she died have settled High Court actions against the National Maternity Hospital over her death.

The High Court on Friday was told of the settlement of the actions over the death of Baby Linnea Henon Hesselius five years ago.

The family’s counsel, Doireann O’Mahony BL with Dr John O’Mahony SC, told the court that the loss of their first child had a devastating effect on Baby Linnea’s mother and father and they lost faith in the Irish healthcare system.

“Such was the loss of their faith in the Irish healthcare system that they relocated to Barcelona, Spain, for the birth of their second child,” counsel said.

Ms Justice Leonie Reynold who offered her condolences to the couple on the death of their “beloved first child” said it was a travesty that they lost faith in the Irish health system.

Baby Linnea Henon Hesselius was born on October 6, 2021 and died on October 21, 2021.

When she was born at 27 weeks and five days, Baby Linnea was only 755 grams in weight. She was 15 days old when she died after developing necrotising enterocolitis which counsel said is a devastating and severe gastrointestinal condition.

Paulina Hesselius Soremo who now lives in Sweden and Frederico Arca Henon who now lives in Barcelona, Spainc had sued The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin over the death of their daughter.

Counsel told the court that the parents separate actions for nervous shock over the death of their daughter had also settled on confidential terms. All the settlements are without an admission of liability.

Family's claims

In the proceedings, it was claimed the hospital allegedly failed to identify the mother was at increased risk of pre-eclampsia and allegedly failed to prescribe low dose aspirin. 

It was further claimed there was an alleged falling below a reasonable standard of care and allegedly significant, avoidable, irreversible and utterly devastating harm had been allegedly caused.

The loss of Baby Linnea, it was claimed, has left a void in the lives of her parents and they said their lives will never be the same again.

All of the claims were denied and the National Maternity Hospital contended the obstetric care and the antenatal care provided was appropriate and consistent with an acceptable standard of care for an Irish maternity hospital in 2021. 

The hospital said an adequate risk assessment for pre-eclampsia was performed.

Doireann O Mahony BL told the court the mother had been born premature as her own mother had pre-eclampsia and she was anxious about it. Unfortunately, counsel said, history repeated itself for the young mother.

Counsel said it was a very tragic case. The mother had travelled from Sweden for the case and the father joined the court online from Barcelona. The couple, counsel said, met in Dublin and were delighted to be expecting their first baby.

After she was born, counsel said, Baby Linnea did reasonably well in ICU until she developed necrotising enterocolitis. “Her parents had just 15 days with their little girl,” counsel added.

Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds noted the settlements and the division of the statutory €35,000 mental distress payment.