One of the lawyers for the couple who sued claimed that the parents propped up the baby's face on top of a blanket to give the impression that the head was attached.
Warning - Many details of the story below may be upsetting.
Jessica Ross, 20, and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr.'s dream of having a baby together "turned to a nightmare" after -- according a lawsuit - their baby was decapitated while childbirth.
The couple filed a suit Wednesday against Dr. Tracey Saint Julian, Southern Regional Medical Center, Riverdale, Georgia, and several other hospital nurses, alleging gross negligent, fraud, and intentional infliction emotional distress.
At a Wednesday press conference, Ross and Taylor were joined by their legal team who described what happened after the pair, at 37 weeks, went to the hospital on the 9th of July when Ross's water broke.
They were so happy about the birth their first child. They went to premier for care because it was close and there were female doctors there, said attorney Cory Lynch. "Unfortunately, Southern Regional Medical Center covered up their nightmares and dreams.
Roderick Edward, an attorney, said that after 10 hours of labour, Ross started to push but the baby "stopped falling." He claimed that the shoulders of the baby became stuck before warning: "What followed was brutal."
The claim is that Dr. St. Julian came in, and "in trying to deliver this baby, pulled and manipulated the baby's neck and head so hard and so hard, the bones of the baby’s face, neck and skull were broken." Edmond stated that Ross was taken to the operating room and given a C section. "When the womb opened, the feet, body, and head were all out."
The head was stuck inside the vagina, and it was then delivered vaginally. He claimed that the baby was decapitated.
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The parents say that while they knew their child had died, they did not know what exactly happened for several days.
The hospital told them that they could not hold their child. Lynch said that the hospital basically told him, "We can't allow you to hold the child." My understanding is that, at one point, they did not want the children to see them. The hospital wrapped up the child very tightly, so that they couldn't see what happened. They were able see the child through the glass.
Edmond said that in an effort to misrepresent, the parents propped up the baby's face on the blanket when they tightly wrapped the baby. This made it look as if the head were attached.
Edmond stated that although it was recorded that Dr. St. Julian "intentionally told the couple the truth", when she visited the room the next day, the pair "reasonably did not want to speak to her at the time." Edmond said that Dr. St. Julian "came clean" a few days later, but denied she was the one who told the couple or the police about the alleged decapitation.
Lynch claims that it was the funeral director who notified Ross and Taylor of the incident on July 13 before they reported it to the authorities. The Clayton County Police Department has confirmed that they have opened an investigation.
The attorneys for the couple said that it was only then that Dr. St. Julian revealed to the family the truth. They did everything they could to keep the family from knowing what happened that day.
Edmond continued to state that St. Julian had been "grossly negligence" in using "ridiculously excess force" on the head and neck of the child. St. Julian, along with the other nurses of the medical center, were also deemed negligent by the legal team for failing to call the on-site obstetrician or advocating that Ross have a C section sooner. They are seeking a jury verdict, along with unspecified damages.
Prime Healthcare Services, which owns Southern Regional Medical Center, said in a statement to USA Today that "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and everyone affected by this tragic incident."
They continued, "Our prayers remain with the team of doctors, nurses and staff who took care of this patient at Southern Regional Medical Center." Southern Regional Medical Center, while expressing its sympathies to the family of the deceased patient, denies all allegations made in the Complaint that refer to the hospital. We cannot make any additional statements because this case is still in litigation.
The company said that Dr. St. Julian was never an employee at the hospital and they have taken the appropriate measures to deal with this unfortunate situation.
According to Law&Crime the medical center, Dr. St. Julian is simply the doctor of the couple and uses the facility as a delivery. The medical center also confirmed to the outlet that "the unfortunate infant death occurred before the delivery and decapitation."
As of yet, Dr. St. Julian has not responded to requests for comments from CNN, USA Today, AP, CBS, and other media outlets.
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Title: Atlanta Doctor, Hospital Accused of Covering Up Baby's Decapitation During Birth In Lawsuit
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/08/10/atlanta-doctor-accused-decapitating-baby/
Published Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 21:04:47 +0000
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