A critically ill infant was taken off life support against his parents’ wishes at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar last September, an inquest at Westmeath Coroner’s Court heard last week. Ventilation for the baby boy, who had severe brain damage, was removed shortly after he was born and the infant survived a further eleven hours.
The court heard that baby Jack Coyne was born by emergency Caesarean Section on 23 September, 2016 after a rare and unexpected complication developed during his mother’s labour.
He was unresponsive at birth and was resuscitated, but life support was withdrawn soon afterwards. Both of the newborn’s parents opposed this decision but were informed that Jack’s clinical situation could not be reversed.
Having heard complex medical testimony, the jury retired to consider a verdict in this tragic case. The Coroner Dr. Wilfred Hoover instructed that either of two verdicts met the legal standard required, medical misadventure or natural causes. Unable to reach a consensus, an Open Verdict was recorded at the inquest.
