Doctor in childbirth case is not struck off

From the archive, first published Thursday 12th Jan 2006.

A LEIGHTON Hospital doctor will not be stripped of her right to practise following claims she botched the care of a baby in childbirth.

Dr Lynda Coughlin, of Wood Sorrel Way, Lowton, near Warrington, appeared before the General Medical Council (GMC) fitness to practise panel after a mother's child was delivered stillborn in January 2004.

The doctor admitted 'inadequate and inappropriate' medical care for the woman, but denied serious professional misconduct.

Medical watchdogs agreed that the incident was the result of a single mistake for which Dr Coughlin demonstrated 'immediate insight and remorse'.

The GMC panel judged that her failings amounted to misconduct but said that her fitness to practise was not impaired.

But Dr Coughlin, a specialist registrar in obstetrics at Leighton, may still receive a warning.

In making its decision the panel acknowledged her 'frank admissions from the outset' including that she had misread a cardiotocograph (CTG) trace.

It agreed that the care of the patient was team-based and that 'a significant breakdown in team working and communication contributed to the tragic outcome.'

It also took into account the training the doctor has since undertaken to address her failings.

Richard Pearce, prosecuting, had alleged that there was 'hostility' between Dr Coughlin and a midwife over the mother's medication, after she started her shift at 9pm on January 24, 2004.

The midwife was concerned about increasing the dosage of Syntocinon, a drug used to induce labour.

But Dr Coughlin instructed the midwife to increase it from 18 mls, eventually up to 96 mls per hour.

By 3am, the patient started to deliver the child. Forty minutes later she made two aborted attempts before delivering the baby at 4.10am by forceps.

The Manchester hearing is expected to conclude tomorrow.

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