One of the country’s leading experts in the care of newborns described the tragic death of a baby at Maidstone Hospital as a very difficult case to explain.

Dr Janet Rennie, a consultant in neonatal medicine at University College Hospital in London, who has also done extensive research into brain injuries in babies, was speaking at the inquest into the death of Benedict Murray, which happened on March 1, 2011.

She told the court:”It is a very difficult incident. It is a very difficult case for everybody to explain.”

Dr Rennie said the resuscitation process had been carried out correctly and she did not believe the baby’s chord had been pressed on at any time during the delivery, even though it had been a difficult birth as Benedict’s head had been at a difficult angle.

But she added: “There has to be an explanation. Babies don’t die in these very sad circumstances without a reasons.

She said, using her experience, she felt it was most likely that Benedict had suffered a bleed on the brain which, although small, had caused him to be born in shock, as he was pale and floppy. She also said it was highly unusual for a baby born with a heartbeat not to respond to resuscitation.

Benedict also showed signs of reaction to an infection.

The court, at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone, had heard that Benedict’s mother, Fiona Murray, had been sent home on February 26 after her waters broke.

She did not go into theatre for an emergency caesarean until the afternoon of March 1.
But Dr Rennie said she did not believe the lengthy delay had contributed to Benedict being born in such a poorly condition.

The court had also heard from consultant pathologist Dr Kerry Turner, who agreed the baby had an infection, although there was no actual sepsis.

She also said there was no pathological evidence of shock in the baby. She said: “We felt that one factor wasn’t fully responsible for the outcome and it was actually a combination of factors.”

The court had heard that Dr Turner and supervising pathologist Liina Kiho had re-written their initial report after reviewing the evidence given by two expert witnesses.

Mid Kent and Medway assistant coroner Allison Summers said: “All the experts have said it’s a difficult case and it is unusual in all aspects.”

She told Miss Murray: “The treatment both ante natally and post delivery was appropriate.On the evidence I have heard I am unlikely to come to the view that something that the doctors did or didn’t do caused or contributed to your baby’s death.”

Mrs Summers will give her conclusion tomorrow (Thursday).