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Mother who gave birth to twins died after misdiagnosis

Tania McCabe who gave birth to twins at a Co. Louth hospital in 2007 after undergoing an emergency caesarian section, whilst being less than 7 months pregnant, died due to a misdiagnosis, according to a new report entitled "Report into the Circumstances Pertaining to the Death of Mrs. Tania McCabe and her infant son Zach at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda on Friday 9 March, 2007".

One of Tania's newborn twins died after she had given birth. The report found that doctors at the Co. Louth hospital did not realize that her waters had broken after she attended the hospital, a few days prior to giving birth.

Findings

The report found that the reason for the misdiagnosis, was due to an over reliance on tests, as well as gaps in communication. It was found that Tania should never have been sent home, if she had been properly diagnosed, as she had been suffering from ruptured membranes.

A further finding was that Tania had a urinary tract infection when she was first admitted to the hospital. She then returned to the hospital on the 8th March 2007 and at that stage, sepsis had set in.

The report found that the service being provided to Tania was compromised due to short-staffing at the hospital as well as highlighting three services that were significantly understaffed; which were as follows:

• Maternity
• Paediatric
• Anaesthetic
  

It was also stated within the report that despite the dedication of staff from the hospital, they were restricted and compromised in performing a high standard of care for Tania. This was found to be due to the workload and environment in which staff were working within at the time.
The report highlighted record-keeping as a factor that was identified as having shortcomings.

The report concluded that Tania died from sepsis with a haemorrhage being subsequently highlighted as the complicating factor. The cause of death of one of her newborn twins, who died, was due to congenital abnormalities.

The staff at the hospital have been briefed of the findings of the report, which subsequently makes a total of 27 recommendations.

Lead up to the incident

Tania attended the hospital on March 6th, 2007, due to thinking that her waters were breaking. A consultant at the hospital however, thought that she was experiencing urinary incontinence as opposed to a rupture of membranes.
It was then subsequently decided that Tania was to be kept in overnight. The following morning, a midwife who was working at the hospital at the time, believed that Tania's waters had broken.

This information was not passed onto the consultant who was looking after Tania at the time and as a result the consultant decided to discharge her and review her condition on March 9th, by which time she was dead.

Seeking Health Law Advice

For further information and advice regarding your legal rights and entitlements, please contact Malcomson Law by calling 01 8744422 or complete an Online Enquiry Form. Your enquiry will be forwarded to a solicitor who specialises in Medical Negligence.

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