A doctor in Georgia is facing a lawsuit after allegedly decapitating a baby during a difficult delivery, with the parents claiming that both the doctor and hospital staff concealed the truth.
The incident, currently under investigation by the police, involves Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., who have taken legal action against Prime Healthcare Services, operating as Southern Regional Medical Center, and the involved doctor and nurses.
According to the lawsuit, Jessica Ross, 20 years old, and her partner Treveon Isaiah Taylor, Sr. were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child on July 9. However, their joy turned to devastation as they discovered that not only did their baby not survive the delivery, but he was tragically decapitated during the process. The couple has named their son Treveon Isaiah Taylor, Jr.
The lawsuit, first reported by Law and Crime, explains that the baby encountered difficulties in the vaginal canal, leading to his shoulders becoming stuck. The lawsuit alleges that during the attempted vaginal delivery, the obstetrician applied excessive force to the baby’s head and neck, resulting in the tragic decapitation.
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The doctor at the center of the case is identified as Tracey L. St. Julian. Both she and the nursing staff are accused of failing to promptly perform a C-section and not calling for assistance in a timely manner. The lawsuit asserts that ultimately, the baby’s legs and torso emerged through a C-section, and his head was then delivered vaginally.
The lawsuit describes the excruciating pain and trauma suffered by the baby as a result of the alleged negligence. The injuries included massive blunt force trauma to the head and neck, multiple fractures of the skull and facial bones, brain hemorrhaging, neck fractures, and ultimately, decapitation.
The parents also claim that the hospital and the doctor tried to cover up the truth. They allege that the doctor did not inform them about the decapitation when speaking to them a few hours after the delivery. The hospital staff allegedly provided false information to avoid a forensic autopsy and pressured the parents to cremate the baby to destroy evidence. The parents were reportedly not allowed to touch or hold the baby, only to view the body, which was positioned in a way that concealed the decapitation.
Southern Regional Medical Center responded to the allegations by stating that privacy laws prevented them from discussing patient care. They denied the claims and mentioned that the doctor in question is not a hospital employee, but rather a medical staff member with privileges. The hospital expressed condolences to the family while standing by their commitment to providing quality care to patients.
The hospital concluded its statement by expressing sympathy for the family and the team of healthcare professionals involved, while reiterating their denial of the allegations due to the ongoing litigation.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those impacted by this tragic event,” the hospital said. “Our prayers also remain with the dedicated team of physicians, nurses and staff at Southern Regional Medical Center who cared for this patient. While our sympathies go out to the family, Southern Regional Medical Center denies the allegations in the Complaint referencing the hospital. Since this matter is in litigation, we cannot provide additional statements.”
Local police confirmed they are investigating the incident.
We are in the preliminary phase of an active and ongoing investigation at this time. We will not able to provide additional details at this time due to the nature of the open investigation.
— Clayton County PD (@ClaytonCountyPD) August 9, 2023
