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An inquest has revealed conflicting evidence about the birth of Alby Spreadborough, with a doctor claiming to see the baby breathe despite others reporting no signs of life after an emergency caesarean. The hearing also examined whether the delivery was delayed, contributing to the baby's death from oxygen deprivation.
Newborn baby Alby Spreadborough was "flat, pale and lifeless" when he was born, but an inquest has heard a doctor saw him take two small breaths.
Alby's Signs of Life
Among the considerations for Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher is whether Alby was stillborn after an emergency caesarean section at Emerald Hospital in February 2023. During this week's five-day coronial inquest into his death, the court heard doctors and midwives did not find a heartbeat while attempting to resuscitate Alby after a difficult delivery. Alby Spreadborough was delivered via an emergency caesarean section at Emerald Hospital but did not survive.
Rural generalist Tristan Howie said he saw the baby take a "gaspy" breath early in the resuscitation and another a short time later. On Friday, specialist neonatologist Melissa Luig told the court the breaths were likely signs of life and that she believed the baby died from a lack of oxygen.
Dr Luig, who was not involved in the case, said although clinicians were unable to find a heartbeat, it was possible there could have been an undetected slow "electrical heartbeat".
Medical Evidence at Inquest
"It may not have been strong enough to be palpated . " Dr Howie said it was a "great concern" to see Alby take what looked like a breath during resuscitation attempts. Dr Howie said he later put a breathing mask over Alby and saw him take another small breath, but it was not followed by any breathing movement. But specialist obstetrician Greg Duncombe, who was not involved in the case, said he believed there were no signs of life.
Counsel assisting Geoffrey Diehm said the evidence during the inquest described Alby as "flat, pale and lifeless in appearance" when he was delivered. At the conclusion of the inquest, Ms Gallagher said she was persuaded Alby was not a stillbirth. The inquest also investigated issues around medical charts in the lead-up to Alby's delivery and whether a caesarean should have been performed earlier.
The court heard doctors did not find any significant concerns from scans in the lead-up to the emergency caesarean section. ABC News: Emily Anderson However, on Thursday specialist obstetrician Rachael Nugent, who was not involved with the birth, said in hindsight, she believed doctors had been "falsely reassured" by scans, which she said were inaccurate. Dr Nugent said "consistent signs of hypoxia" - when the baby cannot get enough oxygen into the blood - were not recognised.
Hypoxia and Caesarean Timing
If a caesarean had been performed an hour earlier, the baby may have "coped better", she said. Tim and Rebecca Spreadborough gave evidence at the inquest into the death of their newborn son Alby Spreadborough.
Alby Spreadborough Newborn Death Emergency Caesarean Stillbirth Hospital Negligence Oxygen Deprivation Medical Error Inquest Queensland Health Neonatal Care
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