Police in Georgia are investigating after a wrongful death lawsuit alleged that a baby was decapitated during delivery earlier this summer and that the hospital and staff conspired to cover it up.
The lawsuit claims that Jessica Ross, 20, went to Prime Healthcare Service, Inc. d/b/a Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale on July 9 when her water broke, WAGA reported. According to the complaint, one of the baby’s shoulders became stuck — called shoulder dystocia — during the delivery, which prompted the doctor to try several different methods to complete the delivery before opting for a Cesarean section some three hours later.
The lawsuit says that the baby’s body and legs were delivered by the C-section, but the head was delivered vaginally.
Dr. Tracey St. Julian, the OB/GYN, did not tell Ross and her family about the decapitation when she spoke with them nearly five hours later, the suit claims. It also says the hospital encouraged Ross and the baby’s father, 21-year-old Treveon Taylor, to have the baby cremated and skip an autopsy.
When the couple asked to see the baby and hold him, the lawsuit says, hospital staff brought the baby wrapped tightly in a blanket with his head “propped on top of his body,” concealing the decapitation. According to the lawsuit, the family learned about the decapitation from the funeral home.
“They were so excited about the birth of their first child,” said attorney Cory Lynch, The Associated Press reported. “Unfortunately, their dreams and hopes turned into a nightmare that was covered up by Southern Regional Medical Center.”
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday morning and alleges St. Julian “grossly negligently applied excessive traction” on the baby’s head and neck failed to do a Cesarean section “in a timely and proper manner,” according to WAGA.
The lawsuit also names Premier Womens’ OB/GYN LLC, saying it is “liable for the grossly negligent acts and omissions of its employee and/or agent” and accuses several nurses of failing to follow proper precedures.
The suit asks for compensation for the suffering and death of the child as well as Ross’s “tremendous mental and physical anguish and trauma.” It also asks for damages for the full value of the baby’s life, including potential loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.
The hospital told the AP that it could not discuss patient treatment but denied the allegations in the lawsuit. In a statement, it said that St. Julian was not a hospital employee and that it had “taken the appropriate steps in response to this unfortunate situation.” A spokesperson, Kimberly Golden-Benner, declined to elaborate.
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[Featured image: Attorney Cory Lynch, left, announces the lawsuit with Treveon Taylor and Jessica Ross/AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala]
