Medical Negligence Awareness: Ryan & Emmie’s Story

Quinn's tragic story began with a medical negligence case that led to his death in July 2021 due to inadequate care that has now been deemed criminal. 

In the week leading up to Quinn’s birth, Emmie experienced bleeding and was sent home from the hospital three times. At home, she lost 1.5 litres of blood, prompting an urgent return to the hospital. Unfortunately, staff failed to review the ambulance notes and dismissed Emmie’s request for an emergency caesarean birth. We watched in distress as Quinn's heart rate soared to 200 beats per minute, leading to a critical situation where he was deprived of oxygen. 

Eventually, Quinn was delivered by an emergency caesarean after Emmie suffered a significant bleed. Though he was rushed to neonatal intensive care, he tragically died less than two days later.

The psychological damage both of us endured while helplessly observing Quinn in NICU is not acknowledged by the courts as a consequence of medical negligence for secondary victims. The trauma Ryan experienced from witnessing Emmie bleed is deemed irrelevant by the Supreme Court. 

This lack of acknowledgment as secondary victims exacerbates our suffering and hinders our healing process. Since Quinn’s death, we have struggled to return to full-time work. 

Now, four-and-a-half years later, we have yet to start grieving properly.