Georgia woman Jessica Ross sues hospital after baby allegedly decapitated during delivery
A lawsuit has been filed against an Atlanta-area hospital after a baby was allegedly decapitated as his mother was giving birth last month.
Jessica Ross, 20, went to the emergency room at the Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale on July 9, after her water broke at around 10 a.m., FOX Atlanta reported. At 8:40 p.m., she was fully dilated and began pushing.
The baby stopped descending because of shoulder dystocia while being delivered vaginally, meaning the baby’s shoulders could not fit through the pelvic area, the lawsuit said.
Dr. Tracey St. Julian reportedly attempted to deliver the baby vaginally using different methods, including applying traction to the baby’s head.
“In the process of trying to deliver this baby pulled on the head and neck so hard, and manipulated them so hard, that the bones in the baby’s skull face and neck were broken,” Roderick Edmond, one of Ross’ attorneys said during a news conference.
At around 11:50 p.m., St. Julian decided to perform a STAT Cesarean section.
The baby’s body and legs were delivered at 12:11 a.m. and the baby’s head was delivered vaginally.
Here's the latest on the Georgia baby who was decapitated at birth
The death of Treveon Taylor, who was decapitated at birth, was ruled a homicide and was caused by the “actions of another person” during birth, according to reports.
Jessica Ross, 20, had complications when she went into labor at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Atlanta, Georgia, on July 9, 2023. While she was giving birth, the baby stopped descending because the shoulders couldn’t fit through the pelvic area.
The doctor performed a C-section too late, while putting “excessive tension” on the head, causing the head to detach, according to reports.
According to the lawsuit, Dr. Tracey St. Julian didn’t tell the parents about the decapitation and refused to let them hold the baby after he died. The hospital staff allegedly showed the parents the baby wrapped in a blanket with his head propped on top.
The parents claim they were not told about the decapitation until the funeral home called, asking why they received a decapitated baby from the hospital and not from the medical examiner’s officer or law enforcement.
The medical examiner’s office said pregnancy-induced diabetes and premature rupture of membranes contributed to the newborn’s death, according to reports.
The parents are seeking unspecified damages for the full value of the baby’s life, including loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.
The lawsuit allegedly St. Julian failed to tell Ross and her family about the decapitation.
It also alleges that the hospital discouraged Ross and the baby’s father, Treveon Taylor, from seeking an autopsy, instead telling them to have their son cremated in lieu of taking him to a funeral home.
A report of the alleged decapitation was never made to authorities, Cory Lynch, an attorney for Ross, said during a news conference to announce the lawsuit.
The death was flagged by a funeral home, he said.
“They did everything in their power to not let the family know what happened,” Lynch said.
In addition, St. Julian, who is also named in the lawsuit, “grossly negligently applied excessive traction on Treveon Isiah Taylor Jr.’s head and neck and grossly negligently failed to do a Cesarean section in a timely and proper manner, resulting in Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr.’s decapitation and death,” the lawsuit said.
The hospital told Fox News Digital said it was unable to discuss the care and treatment of patients, citing patient privacy laws.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those impacted by this tragic event. Our prayers also remain with the dedicated team of physicians, nurses, and staff at Southern Regional Medical Center who cared for this patient,” the hospital said in a statement.
“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. As far as Dr. St Julian, she is not an employee of the hospital. The hospital has taken the appropriate steps in response to this unfortunate situation.”
The complaint is seeking unspecified damages for the full value of the baby’s life, including loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.
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