GA - Couple sues Hospital, Dr. Tracey St. Julian, and hospital staff for gross negligence after baby decapitated during delivery, July 2023

[imstilla.grandma]

Brian Byars, director of the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office, said in an interview on Thursday that the cause of the infant’s death was under investigation. He said he had also requested that state agencies investigate the role of the doctor and nurses in the episode.

In addition to Dr. St. Julian and Southern Regional Medical Center, the lawsuit lists the health group that Dr. St. Julian is a part of, called Premier Women’s Obgyn, and six unnamed nurses as defendants. The suit accuses them of gross negligence, fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Kimberly Golden-Benner, a spokesperson for Southern Regional Medical Center, said in an emailed statement on Thursday that the hospital “denies the allegations of wrongdoing in the complaint.”

The hospital cannot “discuss the care and treatment of specific patients” because of privacy laws, she said, but added, “we can state this unfortunate infant death occurred in utero prior to the delivery and decapitation.”

Infant Was Decapitated During Delivery, Georgia Couple’s Lawsuit Claims (Published 2023)

A complaint says an obstetrician used too much force during the delivery and that a hospital had tried to conceal what had happened.

www.nytimes.com

 

[alexwood]

Baby decapitated during birth died in utero, metro Atlanta hospital claims; investigation continues

"The medical examiner’s office said they were notified of a “deceased infant [the funeral home] had in their care that had been reported as decapitated during childbirth.”

"On Thursday, Southern Regional Medical Center said in a statement that the hospital did report the infant’s death to the medical examiner and is cooperating with all investigations."

"Byars [Director, Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office] said the hospital did not self-report the incident, but is cooperating with the county’s investigation."

 

[alexwood]

I am having a hard time verifying the license for Dr. Tracey St. Julian.

 

[Doghairrules]

That is really not forgivable on the hospital’s part. It must have been hugely traumatic for all staff, but some professional on staff should have done something.

Though I don’t know what that is. Telling the horrifying truth to the mom who just went through a physically dangerous labor, endangering her further?

Tell Dad but tell him to be strong enough not to tell Mom for a bit? Tell the grandparents?

Both parents are so young and I can’t imagine looking at them and trying to figure out the right thing to do. And of course administrators avoid these issues, but they get paid the big bucks to do this, ostensibly. Ideally, someone higher up who wasn’t directly traumatized should have consulted with a chaplain or social worker to do the right thing.

This is just too awful.

I agree with you about the timing of telling the family being very tricky, BUT they also actively covered it up, apparently, wrapping the baby tightly to make it look like what happened hadn't happened, only allowing the parents to see him through a window, telling them they would have to privately pay for an autopsy, and encouraging them to cremate the baby. If all of that is true, I hope they get the book thrown at them.

 

[alexwood]

I hope the parents do not agree to a settlement but opt instead to go to trial.

 

[neesaki]

This is horrifying. Now I wish I hadn’t read about it.

 

[Doghairrules]

The hospital cannot “discuss the care and treatment of specific patients” because of privacy laws, she said, but added, “we can state this unfortunate infant death occurred in utero prior to the delivery and decapitation.”

Infant Was Decapitated During Delivery, Georgia Couple’s Lawsuit Claims (Published 2023)

A complaint says an obstetrician used too much force during the delivery and that a hospital had tried to conceal what had happened.

www.nytimes.com

RSBM

As IF this would make it somehow better?

I did some research on shoulder dystopia and according to multiple medical sites (Cleveland Clinic, NIH, American Academy of Family Physicians), this is an EMERGENCY situation. The danger is that the baby's head is outside of the birthing canal and the rest of the body is stuck and this can cause a lack of oxygen for the baby, as I understand it. From what we know so far, it does not seem like this was treated as an emergency or that the proper protocol was followed. More info from the NIH: (I will self report in case this link isn't allowed.)

Shoulder Dystocia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I am having a hard time verifying the license for Dr. Tracey St. Julian.

* I haven’t tried to the GA board site to verify yet
Dr. St. Julian and Premier Women’s Obgyn did not respond on Wednesday and Thursday to calls or emails for comment. According to the organization’s website, Dr. St. Julian is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who has practiced in the Atlanta area for over 18 years. She completed her residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, it said.

Infant Was Decapitated During Delivery, Georgia Couple’s Lawsuit Claims (Published 2023)

A complaint says an obstetrician used too much force during the delivery and that a hospital had tried to conceal what had happened.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Knox]

Horrific!! I simply don't understand why the doctor was so hell bent on delivering the baby vaginally, when there were clear signs he was stuck and a c-section was the only safe alternative?

 

[fred&edna]

Horrific!! I simply don't understand why the doctor was so hell bent on delivering the baby vaginally, when there were clear signs he was stuck and a c-section was the only safe alternative?

I can't imagine a physician inflicting so much trauma on an infant.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I am having a hard time verifying the license for Dr. Tracey St. Julian.

Verification

About Us | Premier Women's OB/GYN

premierwomensobgyn.com

 

[Knox]

Verification

Broken link?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Broken link?

Try it this way and put her name in

Verification

 

[alexwood]

Try it this way and put her name in

Verification

O.K. This is what I get:

Verification

My conclusion is that it is impossible to access Dr. St. Julian's Licensee Information page. It won't come up.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

O.K. This is what I get:

Verification

My conclusion is that it is impossible to access Dr. St. Julian's Licensee Information page. It won't come up.

Name: Tracey Lynn St Julian Designation: MD

Lic #: 54127 Profession: Physician Subtype: Full Status: Active Issued: 1/9/2004 Expires: 4/30/2025 Specialties Specialty/Subspecialty Certifying Board Primary Specialty? Obstetrics and Gynecology ABOG Y

Try going in from their home page cause it’s there:

Verify a Licensee

Verify a Licensee

medicalboard.georgia.gov

 

[24Roses]

IMHO, this is the saddest story of a baby passing at birth that I have ever read and I honestly didn't realize that what happened to him could even happen. Rest safely with Jesus little one and prayers to your family.

 

[alexwood]

@imstilla.grandma Thank you! My mistake was Typing her name as St. Julian (with the period)!

 

[SugarQueen]

I cried…real tears. Reading this broke my heart. These poor parents.
I hope this Dr is never, ever, allowed to practice again. What kind of a human decides covering it up and saving their own azz is priority? How was this Dr not so completely devastated that she couldn’t even think?

 

[sds71]

“We should have retrieved this body from the coroner’s office. When that did not happen, that’s when I said we need to reach out,” Watkins said.

According to Watkins, he first called the family of the baby.

In a conversation with the baby’s grandmother, Watkins said he immediately knew that the family did not know the baby’s head was detached from his body.

“They didn’t know. They did not know,” Watkins said. “And to see the pain and the anguish as if like what really just happened, your heart goes out to them,” he said.

‘This is not right’: Funeral home blows whistle after receiving decapitated baby

A manager at a funeral home in Georgia says he knew something wasn’t right when they received a decapitated baby.

www.actionnews5.com

 

[fred&edna]

I'm still reeling over this case... it appears from the legal doc the mother was already considered high-risk.