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You are in: Home Page | Personal Injury | Medical Negligence Claims | Clinical Negligence Articles and Clinical Negligence Factsheets | Infant Mortality Clinical Negligence Claims

December 2010

Infant Mortality Clinical Negligence Claims

Introduction

The birth process is a very precious time for every family, and the majority of births will proceed without complication. However, according to SAND (Stillborn and neonatal death charity), every day in the UK 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Some of these deaths may be due to recognised or known complications of the birth process. It is concerning that some of these deaths will be due to a baby suffering from a birth injury due to failures in treatment before, during and after birth.

Clinical negligence may be involved in the fatality if the relevant obstetricians and midwives failed to take the action or investigation necessary to prevent the injury to the baby.

If a baby has passed away pre birth after 24 weeks gestation or more, this will be regarded as a Stillbirth. Please see our section on stillbirth claims for more information about these types of cases.

If a baby is born alive, and tragically passes away post birth, this will be regarded as an infant mortality.

What can cause infant mortality?

There are a number of causes which may lead to infant mortality including;

• Prematurity.
• Pre-existing medical conditions.
• Infections.
• Maternal or gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Problems with the placenta that have affected the blood supply to the baby.
• Congenital abnormalities such as heart conditions, or genetic birth defects.
• Birth trauma – such as a disruption in the supply of oxygen to the baby.

Although some of these causes of death cannot be prevented, there are some that can with better treatment and investigation from the medical clinicians involved.

When can you make a claim for infant mortality?

You may be able to pursue a successful claim for clinical negligence if it can be proven that the treatment and / or investigation provided by the medical clinicians involved in your pregnancy, birth or aftercare was substandard and that this substandard treatment has been the most substantial factor in the death of your baby.

Who can make a claim for infant mortality?

The parents of a baby who has died due to substandard treatment can pursue a claim for clinical negligence.

Compensation that can be recovered

Whilst it is appreciated that no amount of money will ever be able to compensate the sense of loss that is felt with a loss of a life, the clinical negligence compensation procedure has a specified way in which claims are valued based on the law at present.

There are four main elements to the compensation that can be recovered.

1. General damages – This is for the pain and suffering that the parents of the baby have suffered, mainly in terms of a recognised psychiatric injury.
2. Special damages – This is for any losses and expenses that may have been incurred in the past and may still be incurring. This can include, for example, loss of earnings for extended periods of time off work and also any costs for counselling that may have been (or is yet to be) incurred to help parents to cope with their loss.
3. Bereavement damages – A sum of £11,800 is awarded to the parents of a baby who has passed away where negligence is proven to have been the significant factor in the baby’s death.
4. Funeral expenses – If they are paid by the parents of the baby.

An example of a successful claim that Thompsons have pursued for infant mortality

Thompsons recently settled a claim for Michelle, with respect to the tragic loss of her baby daughter, Lily who died on 3rd January 2007 at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester.

The mismanagement of Lily’s birth led to her suffering a lack of oxygen during the birth. The medical clinicians involved in Lily’s birth should have realised earlier that she was in distress during the birth and have proceeded to a caesarean section.

Lily was born very poorly and was immediately transferred to a specialist unit. Tests performed sadly showed that she had suffered brain damage and organ damage due to the lack of oxygen. Tragically, Lily passed away 23 days after her birth despite efforts to save her.

This loss obviously had a devastating effect on Michelle and her family. Michelle needed an extended amount of time off work to deal with her grief and also found that bereavement counselling was beneficial.

Michelle contacted Thompsons to investigate the negligence during Lily’s birth. Thompsons solicitors investigated the case with the assistance of a variety of highly skilled independent medical experts and achieved an admission of liability from the Hospital Trust involved. The Hospital Trust admitted that earlier intervention would have prevented Lily’s death.

Once an admission of liability had been achieved, Thompsons worked with Michelle to value her claim with the assistance of relevant independent medical experts and presented the evidence to the representatives of the hospital trust. This process involved an assessment by the expert of the effect that the loss of Lily had had on Michelle and the amount of medical assistance she had needed and would still need to help her cope with the loss of Lily. An award of £68,000 in compensation was achieved for Michelle in May 2010. Michelle commented after the case that she felt that she had achieved ‘justice for Lily’s death’.

Thompsons' specialist Clinical negligence solicitors

Thompsons solicitors have extensive proven knowledge and experience in dealing with infant mortality cases. We provide a service which is committed to recognising the importance to families in investigating errors in care which have led to a fatality. We are also dedicated to the provision of a service that reflects a high level of empathy to help families through the complex legal process during what is recognised to be a very difficult time.

Michelle Ashworth, who was awarded compensation in the case cited above said the following about the service that was provided to her after the successful settlement of her claim;

“My solicitor was always excellent with the paperwork and dealt with telephone conversations with a great sense of empathy. She has helped, and made a great difference to how I get through each day”.

Clinical Negligence Compensation Claim Advice

If you or anyone you know has suffered from any form of clinical negligence, telephone us now for accurate personal injury claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury compensation claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all matters relating to clinical negligence and will be able to advise you as to whether or not you have a valid personal injury claim for compensation. Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.

Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.