A British medical expert told the High Court yesterday it was "highly unusual" that there was no trace or recording of a baby's heartbeat in the 26 minutes before the boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic, was born at a Cork hospital.
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Robert Varley Clements, said when the trace record relating to the baby, Ian O'Mahony, ceased at 16.49 p.m. on May 11th, 1987, the heart rate had dropped substantially and the baby's condition was very poor. In such circumstances, the baby must be delivered with the greatest possible speed, Dr Clements said. In fact, the records at Bon Secours Hospital showed the child was born 26 minutes later, he said.
Yesterday was the ninth day of an action by Ian O'Mahony, suing through his mother, Ms Ann O'Mahony, of Beechwood Grove, Onslow Gardens, Commons Road, Cork. It is alleged there was negligence in the birth of the boy at the Bon Secours Hospital on May 11th, 1987.
The action is against the hospital and a consultant obstetrician, Dr David A. Corr, of Western Road, Cork, both of whom deny the claims. Yesterday, Dr Clements said there was nothing to suggest that the baby was anything but perfectly well at 4.30 p.m., when Ms O'Mahony was recorded as being fully dilated. After that, there was a dramatic change - the baby's heart went down and circulation was very poor.
He agreed a post-birth APGAR test showed that the baby scored 8, indicating a very healthy baby, but there was no indication when this test was carried out and it was certainly unusual, in his experience, for such a score to be recorded in a baby who, 20 to 30 minutes before birth, had suffered a substantial heartbeat fall.
Cross-examined by Mr Murray McGrath SC, defending, Dr Clements said he would have expected an APGAR test score of between 2 and 5 if the boy had the brain damage which, Dr Clements believed, he may have suffered prior to birth. If the baby had cried at birth, as Dr Corr had stated in his notes, this was a clear indication the baby was in good condition with no respiratory difficulties.
The hearing continues today.