An inquest into the death of a full-term stillborn at Mayo University Hospital has returned the verdict of medical misadventure at the Coroner's Court in Swinford.
Coroner Eleanor Fitzgerald recommended the use of monitors from the beginning of induction of labour for high risk pregnancies.
The couple who unfortunatley lost their baby, already had two boys and this was an IVF pregnancy following two miscarriages.
In December 2023, Marion and Robert's baby, that they name Amelia Rose was stillborn at 38 and three days.
The court heard from Marion, that her baby was "healthy" and that she was vigilant throughout her pregnancy. In the final weeks of her pregnancy, she complained of a reduction in fetal movement, this was when she was labelled a "high risk."
In December of 2023, Marion was induced, the baby was over 38 weeks and described as "large for fetal age." By lunch time of the day she was induced the baby's heartbeat could not be detected and an ultra sound confirmed intra-uterine feotal death.
When the baby was delivered the following day, they found the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck.
Reports state that given it was an IVF pregnancy and Marion was 43 years old, she should have been offered an early induction.
The Hunts solicitor, Damien Tansey told the court that what happened was clearly unintentional but something had clearly "gone wrong."
"This was a high risk pregnancy by definition, acknowledged by the hospital and the consultant in the hospital, and it became more serious in the last month before the death. And you heard the coroner there in arriving at her decision of medical misadventure, that the option of a cesarean section at an earlier stage should have been presented to Marion as an option," he said.
"And in fairness to the consultant, he also agreed that he should have given that option, and he regretted not doing so. And clearly, had the option of a cesarean section been presented to Marion she would have opted for it, and we wouldn't be here today," he continued.
Marion spoke outside of the courthouse, she said: "We're totally relieved because we've fought so long and so hard for this. Amelia deserved justice, because what happened to her wasn't right, and we feel that today has vindicated us and shown that there was things that could have been done. And it's been a long time, but we are here now, and we have justice for her, and we fought for that specifically for her, because we didn't want this to happen to another family and another baby. In 2026 this shouldn't be happening, and we want to make sure that no other family go through this, and we have justice for her."
"She's a beautiful little girl, you can see from pictures. She was a perfectly healthy baby girl. No reason why she shouldn't be here, but if this loss prevents other people and other families going through it, it'll have been worth fighting all the way to here, for this," she continued.
