英國一名產婦因在醫院生仔大出血留下陰影,堅持「無醫療介入」居家分娩生女,結果與剛出生的BB雙雙喪命,事後,驗屍官斥醫院未示警。
@ebeebiebby Prestwich, Greater Manchester. An inquest has heard how Jennifer Cahill (34) and her newborn Agnes Lily both passed away after a home birth last June. Jennifer chose a home delivery after feeling unsupported during her first birth in 2021. Clinicians had advised hospital delivery due to a prior postpartum haemorrhage, but the couple say the risks weren’t fully explained. Two midwives attended. As contractions intensified, the gas-and-air kit failed and one midwife left to get replacements. Jennifer became fatigued. Agnes arrived around 6:45am and immediately needed support. An ambulance took her to North Manchester General Hospital. Jennifer was later brought in seriously unwell. Agnes survived just under four days. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust accepts Jennifer’s home birth—outside guidelines—should have triggered a senior midwife review to go over dangers in full. Doctors had said a hospital birth would be safer. This case is raising tough questions: What does true “informed choice” look like? How do we ensure continuity of care, reliable pain relief, and clear risk communication—especially for families with prior complications? Share your thoughts with compassion. 💛 #JenniferCahill #protectwomen #HomeBirth #Inquest #MaternityCare ♬ original sound - Ebeebiebby Mission Specialist
恐懼醫療介入 產婦堅持居家自然分娩釀悲劇
綜合外媒報導,英國大曼徹斯特地區一名34歲女子珍妮佛・凱希爾(Jennifer Cahill)於去年6月選擇在家中自然分娩第二胎,結果與新生女兒雙雙身亡。
丈夫羅伯(Rob Cahill)日前在羅奇代爾驗屍法院(Rochdale Coroners Court)舉行的聽證會上透露,妻子之所以選擇居家分娩,是因為3年前在醫院誕下長子時曾出現產後大出血,並感染B型鏈球菌(Group B Streptococcus),兒子也因此罹患敗血症。此次懷孕,她因恐懼醫療介入,堅決拒絕藥物與醫療干預,希望以「自然分娩」的方式誕下幼女。
產婦堅持「無醫療介入」居家分娩釀母女雙亡悲劇。影片截圖
拒檢查拒用藥物 助產士難監察產婦狀況
協助接生的資深助產士安德莉雅・沃爾斯利(Andrea Walmsley)指出,凱希爾拒絕進行基本檢查,包括尿液樣本與血壓測量,並拒絕使用防止產後出血的藥物 Syntometrine。她形容當時環境昏暗,難以有效觀察產婦狀況,並直言:「她的生產計畫是我看過最緊湊、最強勢的版本之一」。
產婦堅持「無醫療介入」居家分娩釀母女雙亡悲劇。影片截圖
醫生避談死亡風險 驗屍官斥溝通失當
儘管凱希爾屬於高風險孕婦,但醫療單位未能有效執行應有的醫療建議。婦產科醫生艾德萬博士(Dr Azel El-Adwan)曾於今年3月與凱希爾會面並建議她在醫院分娩,以防突發狀況,但未明確指出「死亡」風險。他解釋,醫療系統普遍避免使用該字眼,以免孕婦心理受壓。
驗屍官喬安・凱斯利(Joanne Kearsley)對此提出質疑,強調過度顧慮語言措辭,反令產婦低估潛在危險,「這些婦女需要知道,她們的決定涉及的生與死的問題」。
產婦堅持「無醫療介入」居家分娩釀母女雙亡悲劇。影片截圖
分娩當日情況急轉直下 母女不幸身亡
6月3日凌晨,凱希爾在家中誕下女嬰艾格妮絲・莉莉(Agnes Lily),惟嬰兒一出生即出現異常,被緊急送往北曼徹斯特綜合醫院。凱希爾病情同樣急轉直下,送院後宣告死亡。女嬰於出生4日後也不幸離世,確切死因仍在調查中。
高風險個案未獲妥善監管 信託機構承認疏漏
聽證會揭示,凱希爾雖屬高風險產婦,卻未被轉介至資深助產士或專家小組進行風險再評估。曼徹斯特基金會信託(Manchester Foundation Trust)承認在制定個人化分娩計劃時出現疏忽,未能充分應對醫療風險。
「自然分娩」風潮惹關注 專家籲加強干預機制
醫界人士指出,在社交媒體與網絡資訊的推動下,愈來愈多女性追求「完全自然」的生產方式。艾德萬醫生坦言,醫生無法強迫孕婦改變立場,只能盡力提供風險評估與輔導,但「擁有強烈自主意志的產婦,往往難以說服。」此案引起英國社會對高風險孕婦居家分娩安全性及醫療機構干預權限的廣泛討論,相關調查仍在進行中。