The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s office has declared the death of a newborn, Treveon Taylor, a homicide. The baby was decapitated during a complicated birth at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Atlanta, on July 9. The medical examiner’s office stated that the infant’s death resulted from the actions of another person during the birth process.
Jessica Ross, the baby’s 20-year-old mother, experienced complications during labor. The lawsuit filed by Ross and the baby’s father in August details that the baby stopped descending due to shoulder dystocia, a condition where the baby’s shoulders cannot fit through the pelvic area. The lawsuit alleges that the doctor performed a cesarean section too late, causing excessive tension on the baby’s head, leading to its detachment from the body.
The lawsuit identifies the doctor as Dr. Tracey St. Julian. It alleges that Dr. St. Julian did not inform the parents about the decapitation and denied them the opportunity to hold their baby after his death. The hospital staff is also accused of presenting the baby to the parents wrapped in a blanket with his head propped on top.
The parents claim they were not informed about the decapitation until they were contacted by the funeral home. The funeral home staff were puzzled as to why they received a decapitated baby from a hospital instead of the medical examiner’s office or law enforcement.
The medical examiner’s office noted that pregnancy-induced diabetes and premature rupture of membranes also contributed to the newborn’s death. The parents are seeking unspecified damages for the full value of the baby’s life, including loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.
The funeral home alerted the medical examiner’s office about the baby’s condition, which led to an investigation. The hospital, citing HIPAA laws, stated in August that it could not discuss the care and treatment of patients.
The hospital expressed its condolences to the family and denied the allegations in the lawsuit. It also clarified that Dr. St. Julian is not an employee of the hospital. The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the decision to file formal charges relating to the homicide investigation would be up to the district attorney.