Parents in plea for justice
11:01am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News
THE parents of a baby who died days after being “deprived of oxygen” as he was born at the Royal Bolton Hospital, have said they want justice for their son.
Mikhael Morales was just 11 days old when he died on August 15, 2009, after his parents Sheryl and Leonard Morales, formerly of Farnworth, agreed to withdraw treatment.
Bolton Coroners Court heard Mikhael was unresponsive following his birth in the early hours of August 4.
He had suffered brain, liver and kidney damage.
An inquest into his death heard he was comatose in the days following his birth and was unable to breathe independently.
Mrs Morales, who is now living in the Philippines, said in a statement read out to the court: “Midwife Sandra Harrison didn’t know my baby was distressed. She didn’t seem bothered with me.
“We just want justice for Mikhael. We just hope nothing like this happens again.
Mr Morales, also in a statement, added: “We just want justice for him so other parents don’t go through this. I feel I am to blame for his death. Ifonly I had been more demanding with staff.”
The couple held off on withdrawing treatment in the hope a “miracle”
would happen.
Mikhael’s inquest heard the drug Syntocinon was used on Mrs Morales about two hours before she gave birth at 5.23am to strengthen contractions.
Dr Jonathan Broome, a former consultant at Royal Bolton Hospital, was on call at home during the birth.
Referring to notes made on the day by staff, he said it appeared the level of the drug seemed to be increasing without what was happening being regulated.
Dr Broome said the contractions recorded were slightly abnormal as they were more frequent than usual.
He added: “In my opinion it was during that hour-and-a-half between 3.30am and 5.23am when the hypoxia (reduced oxygen) appeared.”
Locum specialist registrar, Dr Anthony Madu, gave midwife Ms Harrison a prescription to use the drug.
His signature was on a form but he told the coroner’s court that he had no recollection of the incident.
Hours after Mrs Morales gave birth he treated her for an tear caused by labour.
Mr Madu, who works at Hull Royal Infirmary, said: “It’s very unlikely the grave situation of what happened to her baby had sunk in at that time so there wasn’t really the situation of the baby. I don’t think it’s strange for her not to raise the matter with me.”
He said he had “no clue” about the incident until he was contacted more than a month after the baby’s death.
Det Insp Stuart Wilkinson, from Greater Manchester Police, said an investigation was carried out but no action would be taken unless new evidence came to light.
He said police were satisfied Dr Madu’s writing was on the forms he contested.
A post mortem examination revealed Mikhael had damage to his brain, kidneys and liver and injury consistent of being deprived of oxygen.
The inquest continues.
