Claimant halts birth injury medical negligence case

A woman from Cockermouth in Cumbria has dropped her birth injury medical negligence compensation claim following its commencement in Carlisle civil courts.

The 43-year-old woman claimed that the birth of her son in June 2005 was mishandled by staff at a hospital in west Cumberland. She alleged that doctors and midwives did not recognise signs indicating she was suffering a severe haemorrhage and that the delay in performing a caesarean section to deliver the baby led to her needing life-saving surgery.

Representatives of the hospital trust maintained that the woman's care had been professional and competent, and had not been negligent.

The woman's son was not injured in the birth, but was placed in a special care baby unit while she recovered in intensive care.

The mother claims she has suffered continued psychological ill-health since her "near-death" experience.

After three days of evidence in court the mother decided to withdraw her claim for £100,000 in medical negligence compensation.

Her solicitor commented, "Although [our client] has tried hard to get her life back on track since these events in June 2005, she has not come to terms with her near death."