GEORGIA, UNITED STATES: Jessica Ross a mother from Georgia, and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr have filed a lawsuit against Dr Tracey St Julian and Southern Regional Medical Center, a facility in Riverdale, Georgia.
The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred July 9 during the delivery of Ross' child, Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr. The lawsuit alleges that during a vaginal delivery that began at 8.40 pm that evening, complications arose when the infant's shoulders became entangled.
According to the lawsuit filed, Dr. St Julian is accused of unreasonably delaying a necessary C-section and failing to seek appropriate help in a timely manner. Instead, it is alleged that she applied excessive force to the baby's head and neck in a misguided attempt to facilitate the birth, all while Ross was conscious.
These allegations were brought by attorney and physician Roderick Edmond, who represents the plaintiffs.
Who is Jessica Ross?
Not much is known about Jessica Ross. Her Facebook profile suggests she is a native of Georgia but also mentions Jacksonville, Florida as a city where she lived. Ross is 20 years old and has shared many photos of her pregnancy and her eagerness to have a baby. In a Facebook post from July, Ross said, "Isss can’t wait for our little guy to arrive."
About 2 weeks ago she also shared a photo of a scan with the caption "Nasir Malcolm?"
Dr St Julian allegedly decapitated the infant during tragic delivery attempt
The delivery ultimately culminated in a cesarean section, which was performed at 12.11 pm, about three and a half hours after the onset of labor. During the birthing process, the infant's head was delivered vaginally.
When Ross and Taylor went to see and hold their child, they discovered that the infant's head had been positioned atop his body, hiding the tragedy of the incident. The parents reportedly did not learn the extent of the tragedy until they arrived at the funeral home.
The suit further alleges that Dr St Julian concealed the beheading when he spoke with Ross and her family at about 5 am on July 10. The grieving couple also accuses the hospital of trying to cover up the incident by discouraging them from having an autopsy performed and encouraging them to have a cremation.
Cory Lynch, the representing attorney, lamented the shift from the couple's hopeful anticipation of the birth of their child to the nightmare that unfolded, which was allegedly exacerbated by the Southern Regional Medical Center's alleged cover-up.
"They were so excited about the birth of their first child," said attorney Cory Lynch. "Unfortunately, their dreams and hopes turned into a nightmare that was covered up by Southern Regional Medical Center."
The lawsuit filed seeks compensation for the anguish Ross and Taylor have suffered as a result of the suffering and loss of their infant son. Counsel for Edmond alleges that at the time Ross underwent the C-section, fetal monitoring no longer indicated a heartbeat. The lawsuit notes that the couple originally requested a C-section at an earlier time when the child's survival would have been possible, but was denied.
Premier Women's OB/GYN and medical personnel named in lawsuit
In addition to Dr St Julian, the lawsuit also implicates Premier Women's OB /GYN, LLC, a health care group of which St Julian is a member. Several nurses at the medical center are also involved, as plaintiffs allege proper protocols were not followed when the situation with the infant's shoulders was identified.
Efforts to contact St. Julian's office were unsuccessful, and Southern Regional advised that they were not allowed to discuss patient-related treatment details due to privacy laws. The hospital expressed sympathy to Ross, Taylor and their caregivers, but denied the allegations and reiterated its commitment to compassionate care. "Our commitment is to provide compassionate, quality care to every single patient, and this loss is heartbreaking," the hospital said.
It should be noted that St Julian was not an employee of the hospital, according to a later statement by Southern Regional. The hospital asserted that it had taken appropriate steps in response to the situation.
Premier Women's OB/GYN, featured at two locations, offers a range of services, including obstetric care for both low- and high-risk pregnancies, according to its website. Dr. St. Julian, a board-certified obstetrician, and gynecologist, has practiced in the Atlanta area since January 2005.
The attorney emphasized that this case underscores the elevated rates of infant and maternal mortality experienced by black women. Ross and Taylor, both 21, did not make statements during a news conference held on Wednesday, August 8. The lawsuit alleges gross negligence, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, seeking unspecified punitive damages."
