No trial for midwives over mother’s 2012 home birth death

Ms Demanuele, 60, from Preston, had her camera switched off.

Caroline Lovell during her pregnancy.

Caroline Lovell during her pregnancy.

Ms Lovell’s mother, Jade Markiewicz, said she was deeply disappointed by the decision.

“My only son died in tragic circumstances. My two granddaughters have lost their mothers,” she said. Age.

In 2016, Coroner Peter White criticized the conduct of midwives when treating Ms Lovell, after reviewing her death at the inquest. He recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions consider criminal prosecution.

When the women’s charges reached Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, prosecutors alleged that Ms Demanuele and Ms Bourne had been criminally negligent in failing to detect that Ms Lovell had suffered what was later diagnosed as a post haemorrhage. -partum, when the mother has lost blood from a vaginal tear during childbirth.

The hearing that determined the magistrate’s decision also heard that midwives failed to provide Ms Lovell with oxygen and check her blood pressure when her health declined, and resisted her request for an ambulance when ‘She got agitated, gasped and collapsed trying to get out of the pool around 9.50am.

An ambulance was called at around 10.20am when Ms Lovell lost consciousness and midwives started CPR. Ms Lovell died in hospital in the early hours of the following morning.

While most medical experts diagnosed postpartum haemorrhage as the cause of Ms Lovell’s blood loss and death, some acknowledged it could not be ruled out that she suffered a rare amniotic embolism (AFE) . An AFE occurs when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, and research shows it occurs once in 8,000 births.

In October, John Cade, professor of critical care medicine, told the court Ms Lovell had likely suffered an AFE which would have been difficult to detect, putting her at risk unless she had immediate access to care intensive.

Ms Lovell chose to have her second baby at home after a traumatic hospital birth experience with her first daughter in 2008.

Prosecutors argued that the cause of Ms Lovell’s death was a matter for a jury and asked that midwifery care be considered at trial.

But the women’s lawyers argued last month that no properly instructed jury could convict the midwives ruling out the possibility that an AFE caused Ms Lovell’s death.

Mr Reardon said on Friday that while Ms Lovell’s death was a tragedy it did not mean there had been criminal negligence.

He acknowledged that the death left his family devastated, in shock, sometimes angry and wanting answers.

He said it was ‘hugely disappointing’ that it had taken so long for the case to reach court and that the delay had put a strain on Ms Lovell’s family and the women accused.

Ms Demanuele and Ms Bourne were experienced midwives when they were with Ms Lovell, but are no longer registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency.

Ms Markiewicz said her daughter’s death had “not been entirely in vain”, as she had advocated in recent years to make home births safer for women and their babies.

“The government listened and the health authorities listened,” she said.

“Significant changes have occurred following Caroline’s passing. Women are now safer and better informed about private midwives. Women can make better choices about home births.

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