A medical tribunal has heard that a baby boy who was aborted because of “severe genetic defects” at an NHS hospital was born alive and clung to life for 15 minutes.
“Fragile and transparent”
The disabled baby was delivered at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, at 16 weeks and 4 days gestation. The hearing was told the baby had showed signs of life, with all four limbs moving, but the midwife told the parents that the movements were “just a reflex”.
She wrapped the dying baby in an incontinence pad, “because his skin was fragile and transparent” and she was “concerned that sheets and blankets would be too rough.” The baby boy’s heart stopped after 15 minutes.
Traumatised midwife?
The horrific story came to light in a tribunal of the Nursing and Midwifery Council into the actions of Bernadette Kelly, the midwife involved. Within 24 hours of the incident, on her next shift, Miss Kelly failed spot key signs that another unborn baby was in distress before his tragic stillbirth.
Miss Kelly was struck off the medical register after the tribunal said she should have immediately informed senior staff about the baby’s condition so that a death certificate could be issued. She said that she tried to inform a senior colleague about the signs of life but claimed she was waved away twice – something the other staff member denies.
Miss Kelly told the tribunal that the two experiences were “hellish” and that she had no intention of returning to midwifery, whatever the outcome of the hearing.
The possibility that Miss Kelly was suffering from trauma from having to be involved in a late-term abortion procedure, especially one in which the baby was born alive, does not seem to have been considered. It certainly seems significant that the mistake she made that cost the life of another baby happened so soon after the harrowing experience.
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Abortion hurts medics too
Louise Grant, who works for the Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline, said: “At ARCH, we know that abortion hurts – that’s why we’re here. We are dedicated to promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of not only women who have experienced abortion, but all of those who may be affected, including healthcare staff. What this midwife may have witnessed combined with the following investigation may have understandably affected her in a negative way. Any healthcare professional who is struggling after participation in abortion will find a listening ear at ARCH.”
Fruit of the abortion culture
This horrendous incident is sure to reignite the debate about midwives being involved in abortion, which was sparked when the head of the Royal College of Midwives signed the body up to support the decriminalisation campaign.
It also highlights that babies being born alive during abortions is not as unheard of as abortion advocates claim. It is only a few months since the heartbreaking story of baby Mohamed, who died in his mother’s arms after being born alive during a late-term abortion. It is unknown how often this happens in the UK, as the Government does not collect statistics on it, but the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has pages of guidance on the care of babies born alive during late-term abortions.
While horrific late term abortions are pushed by medical professionals as a better option than giving birth to a baby that has been diagnosed with a disability or a life-limiting condition, incidents like this will continue to happen.
LifeNews Note: Courtesy of SPUC. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is a leading pro-life organization in the United Kingdom. Image shows the hand of baby Miran, who died through miscarriage at 14 weeks – and so was two weeks younger than the baby in this story.
