St Lukes Hospital, Carlow/Kilkenny and the Health Service Executive have issues an official apology to the parents of a Ali Dowling Crowe, who passed away two weeks after her birth, due to the manner of her delivery at the hospital.
Legal representative for Ali’s parents, Patrick Treacy SC, informed the court that she had sustained brain damage at the time of her delivery due to a ‘near total deprivation of oxygen’.
Sharon Dowling and Brian Crowe, Ali’s parents, were read a letter of apology to the High Court, from the HSe and the hospital which stated that both bodies “express an unreserved apology to you and your family for the failings in the care afforded to your child Baby Ali in the course of her birth at this hospital on January 17, 2015. We extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family arising from her subsequent death on February 1st, 2015.”
The Dowling, who live in Ballyraggert, Kilkenny had taken the legal action against alleging that Ali suffered brain damage during to her delivery on January 17 2015 as a result of an acute near total hypoxic ischemic insult during labour. Ali passed away on February 1.
It was claimed that Ali’s delivery was delayed by 20 or 35 minutes and that a subsequent failure to interpret a CTG suitably and take the appropriate step for remedial action occurred. The court was told that there an admission, in part, in the case in relation to the CTG trace.
Outside the court Ali’s parents said in a statement that they never thought that rather than celebrating the birth of their beautiful daughter, they would be attending her funeral. They said: “Instead of calling loved ones telling them our much anticipated and longed for first born had arrived, we had to impart the devastating news that our baby was dead. On that day our lives changed forever and will never be the same again. We are broken but we choose to live in hope and we will try to get on with our lives, knowing that Ali is in our hearts, our angel in heaven guiding and protecting her parents and two sisters.”
Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, in approving the settlement, said she was pleased there has been an apology and wished the family all the best for the future.