A distraught Lincolnshire couple have launched a claim for compensation against a northern hospital after their son was left blind in one eye following the ‘misuse’ of forceps.
As Xavier Cutillo entered the world, doctors at Scunthorpe General Hospital needed forceps to aid his delivery. However, Xavier’s left eye was severely damaged during the incident and his skull fractured by the doctor’s actions.
On 21 December 2009, Xavier’s mother was admitted for delivery. She had a long labour and staff made an attempt to deliver Xavier by ventouse suction cup. After the first attempt proved unsuccessful, the doctor treating her tried a further seven times to deliver the baby the same way; it is advised that no more than three attempts should be made to deliver a baby using this method.
Following the incident, further medical examinations concluded that nothing could be done to save Xavier’s eye, while he may yet still suffer brain damage in the coming years. As a result, his parents felt the need to instruct solicitors to file a claim for medical negligence.
“My son will have to live with the consequences of this for the rest of his life,” said Xavier’s mother. “The whole experience has been extremely traumatic for both me and Xavier’s father Daniel; we’ve been left physically and emotionally traumatised.
“We don’t know yet if he will ever be able to see out of his left eye and he could also be brain damaged. We have to wait and see.
“Having a baby is meant to be one of the happiest days of your life but for us it was a complete nightmare.”
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, representing Scunthorpe General Hospital, has announced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Xavier’s injuries.
If you believe you, or a member of your family, have suffered due to poor medical treatment, contact our Clinical Negligence team on 0800 954 9936, or complete the enquiry form and someone will call you.