Tragic death due to failings in maternity care

The story

Medical negligence expert Louise Tyler represented a man in a case of death due to medical negligence, after his wife tragically died shortly after giving birth to their second child. The coroner concluded that if her original delivery plan had been followed and the Trust had adhered to national guidelines on offering a caesarean section, she would have survived.

The details

Our client’s wife was diagnosed with placenta previa - a condition during pregnancy where the placenta covers all or part of the opening of the uterus (cervix). This can block the baby's exit during delivery and often leads to complications such as vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy. 

At her 34-week appointment, it was planned for her to be reviewed at 37 weeks, with a view to hospital admission and a planned caesarean section by week 38. However, at the 37-week review, the obstetric registrar was unaware of the original plan, and she was sent home, scheduled for a caesarean section at week 38.
In the early hours of the morning, she experienced an antepartum haemorrhage at home and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. She haemorrhaged again at the maternity unit and underwent an emergency caesarean section. While her baby girl was born safely, our client’s wife went into cardiac arrest. Despite prolonged resuscitation attempts, she sadly passed away in the theatre.

Several concerns arose regarding her treatment. The hospital trust had an outdated policy and should have offered a caesarean section between weeks 36 and 37 in accordance with national guidance. The maternity unit lacked a system to relay information from the ambulance service, so staff were unaware she had already haemorrhaged at home. Urgent blood was not ready, and there was no blood available for immediate use in the maternity unit. There was a delay in calling the on-call consultant anaesthetist after the emergency caesarean section was initiated. Additionally, there was no robust system for managing a major obstetric haemorrhage, leading to delays in providing and using blood products. The emergency team lacked coordination and oversight in the surgical theatre, and certain equipment was unavailable.

The impact

Our client, now the primary carer for two children under the age of three, faced significant emotional and financial challenges. He had to reduce his working hours to care for his children, impacting the family's financial stability.

How we helped 

Following the inquest, Louise Tyler pursued a civil claim for compensation for our client and his children, as well as a claim on behalf of the Estate. A forensic accountant report was obtained to address our client’s future loss of earnings and pension. Negotiations with the trust on compensation were lengthy, but we were able to secure a substantial settlement.

The Trust admitted several breaches of care and acknowledged that appropriate care would have saved the life of our client’s wife. He received a formal apology from the Trust, and an investigation by the Early Notification Scheme provided an outcome letter acknowledging the hospital’s failings.

Louise said: “This was a very sad case. It was frustrating as, despite the hospital trust making early admissions, they dragged their heels when it came to settling the claim and made derisory initial offers which were, frankly, insulting given what had happened. We eventually got a reasonable settlement which is no compensation at all for the loss of a loved one but hopefully allowed the family some closure and financial security.”

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2025