Deceased
Matthew Anthony McPhail
Demographics
0y, male
Date of death
2000-07-09
Finding date
2002-09-18
Cause of death
Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (no legal death of person found; coroner declined jurisdiction)
AI-generated summary
A full-term infant, Matthew Anthony McPhail, was delivered at 9.55 pm on 9 July 2000 at Naracoorte Health Service with no signs of life (Apgar 0). CTG monitoring during labour showed concerning fetal bradycardia episodes around 6.55 pm with recovery, followed by total loss of fetal heartbeat between 9.30-9.40 pm. Delivery was by forceps. The child was pale, cyanotic and unresponsive at delivery. Resuscitation was attempted but the infant exhibited no spontaneous vital signs—no cardiac output, no brain function, no respiratory effort, and no response to medications (adrenaline, bicarbonate). Critical uncertainty exists about whether any true heartbeat was detected post-delivery; documentation conflicts with witness testimony. The coroner concluded no independent life was established post-delivery and declined jurisdiction because the death of a person had not occurred. Clinical lessons include the importance of timely decision-making regarding cesarean section when fetal distress is evident, accurate documentation during resuscitation, and clear communication about findings.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
0y · Male·hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to intrapartum asphyxia
Bodhi Leo Searle, aged 36 hours, died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to intrapartum asphyxia. He was born to a woman in low-risk labour managed initially by independent midwife Stephanie Geyer. When labour did…
0y · Female·hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy secondary to intrapartum hypoxia
A 2-day-old neonate, Laura Angela Willmett, died from hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy following intrapartum hypoxia. She was born by emergency caesarean section after a planned vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) at a …
25y · Female·ruptured splenic artery aneurysm with haemorrhage and internal blood loss
A 25-year-old pregnant woman (23 weeks) presented to hospital with sudden left upper quadrant abdominal pain and loss of consciousness. Clinical assessment identified renal colic and gallstones as likely diagnoses. She r…
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