– We want Helse Bergen to be held responsible for Ole’s death at system level. We experienced a long series of mistakes and deviations from routines, laws and rules when Ole was born and during the aftermath, says Torkel Hofslett Thowsen, father of Ole who died on 19 January 2022. The son lived for five days.
A few months before Ole died, another pair of parents lost their newborn daughter. She too was born at Haukeland University Hospital.
– For us, it’s about placing the responsibility for Ella’s death where it belongs, says Morten Vange. The daughter died on 7 August 2021, two days old. She was lifeless and blue when she was born after a long and dramatic birth.
– We would not have summoned the hospital if we had been sure that she received the best treatment. We believe that a number of deviations occurred in connection with the birth. Our case will go to court on 27-28. May, says Vange.
– Error at system level
The parents of Haralds, who was born at week 24, will have their case brought before the court on 30 August.
LOST SON: Little Harald’s was long-awaited. Ita Zviedre and Janis Zviedris lost him in week 24 of the pregnancy. Photo: Alice Bratshaug / Bergens Tidende Photo: Alice Bratshaug / Bergens Tidende
Here, too, the criticism is aimed at Helse Bergen’s routines and procedures.
– Many doctors were involved during the admission, without anyone realizing the seriousness of the condition. We believe the error lies at system level. You don’t have good enough routines and procedures. It is negligent, especially compared to the outcome, says lawyer Ingvill Gjerstad, who represents Ita Zviedre and Janis Zviedris. They lost their Harald on 12 July 2020.
Haukeland University Hospital Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB
Since his death, Ole’s parents have fought to hold the management at the hospital accountable.
VG has read the parties’ closing submissions before the trial, which starts in Bergen District Court on Monday. Lawyer Siren Pretos, who represents Ole and Ella’s parents, claims that the maternity ward at Haukeland University Hospital was chaotically organised. They believe that personnel on duty did not have sufficient or necessary competence and that the clinic was thinly staffed. Preto writes that procedures were unclear or not sufficiently implemented.
“This had serious consequences when acute situations arose”, writes Preto. She believes that the organization made it unclear who was responsible at a very crucial time.
– Want all the facts on the table
In its response, Helse Bergen writes that it is unclear who the parents and their lawyer believe has committed negligent acts. They also ask what concrete, negligent actions the parents believe have caused the death.
The hospital’s lawyer believes that no grossly negligent actions or omissions have been committed by the clinic director or anyone in the hospital management and that the death was not caused by omissions or actions by the management.
Communications director Erik Vigander at Helse Bergen tells VG that Helse Bergen has worked systematically with measures after its own incident review and after feedback from the state administrator.
– In general, we want to get all the facts on the table and learn from any mistakes when unwanted incidents occur. In addition to this, we do not wish to comment on details in cases where a legal process has been started, says Vigander.
– When such tragic events occur, we want to look after the family in the best possible way, and good dialogue with the next of kin is an important part of this. We apologize that we have not been able to meet the need for safeguarding well enough, says the communications director.
HARD HIT: Reidun Kleppe and Torkel Hofslett Thowsen’s little son Ole died on 19 January 2022. He lived for five days. Photo: Tor Høvik / Bergens Tidende
Reidun and Torkel Hofslett Thowsen are strongly critical of the follow-up that severely affected parents received from the hospital both before the birth and after the death.
– We believe the hospital has breached its responsibility towards us as parents and relatives. We have not received the follow-up we are entitled to. The hospital has excelled in all fields when it comes to following up parents who have been in a very serious situation, says Thowsen.
– Could have been avoided
Lawyer Preto will claim in court that the hospital did not follow up on two similar deaths shortly before Ole was born.
– Had the business followed up and ensured training, good routines and that these were followed, Ole’s death could have been avoided, the lawyer believes.
Also read: Three babies died – the parents are suing the hospital
Ella Vange was blue and lifeless when she came into the world, after a dramatic and long birth at the Women’s Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital on 5 August 2021.
For parents Kristine and Morten Vange, the trial is about placing responsibility for their daughter’s death:
– We were served a lot of explanations and theories from the hospital management. In retrospect, we have understood that we have received insufficient information and that information has been tried to be hidden from us. We did not receive anything resembling an apology until the State Administrator concluded that the health care was unjustified. Someone has to take responsibility. We have a feeling that the life of a newborn is not worth as much as the life of an adult, says Morten Vange, Ella’s father.
Early in the birth, Ella had a very fast heart rate. The measurements were not normal. It was decided that the child had to go out. Then the umbilical cord got pinched. She suffered cardiac compression right after birth and eventually breathed on her own, but her brain was so damaged that she died at three days old, 7 August 2021
Photo: Eirik Brekke / Bergens Tidende
Ole’s parents went to the hospital when their third child was due to be born. It was five months after Ella died in the same maternity ward.
Reidun Kleppe reacted to little life in his stomach. Heart rate was measured and it was abnormal. The parents were nevertheless sent home before a doctor had examined the child.
The county doctor in Vestland writes in the inspection report that Ole should have been discharged earlier and that an experienced senior doctor should have been involved earlier in the process. Ole was born with a serious brain injury and died five days old, on 19 January 2022.
– We are concerned that Health Bergen as an organization should take responsibility for the death. We are keen to show that this is due to improper operation at system level. We feel that the hospital as a body refuses to take responsibility for Ole’s death and instead distributes responsibility downwards within its own ranks. The responsibility lies with the management. The staff fail because the system fails, Thowsen believes.
He describes the time after the death and the process leading up to the trial as inhumane.
– We have had our hands full and it has taken its toll, says Thowsen, who will soon go on paternity leave with little Jens.
– We have had a boy who is now ten months old. He is an infinitely great happiness. He has been at home with Reidun. Now I’m going out in a papa perm, says Thowsen.
2024-03-02 20:18:49
#Lost #Ole #birth #responsibility
