Pregnant woman 'sworn at' by hospital worker during three-hour labour
A pregnant woman forced to have a Caesarean after a three-day labour was sworn at by a hospital worker, who demanded to know why she was unable to give birth naturally, a hearing was told.
Samantha Shepherd was being informed by a doctor that she needed the emergency procedure because her pregnancy had become problematic and her then-unborn son Luke's life was in danger.
However, the conversation was interrupted by Nigel Baglin, a surgery assistant, who shouted: "F------ hell, why can't women in this hospital give birth naturally?"
Mrs Shepherd, a mother of three, who was giving birth at at Newham University Hospital, East London, told a hearing into Mr Baglin's fitness to practise that she was left devastated by the confrontation. "I felt I was a complete failure," she said.
"I was really nervous about having the baby. I had two previous births naturally. Every woman has a plan and this labour was not going along as hoped.
"The doctor was explaining that I needed to have a second epidural when he (Baglin) entered the room and banged the door with his trolley."
Everyone in the room heard Mr Baglin's outburst, she said.
"He stormed out and everyone was in shock. I felt worthless and told my husband I was a complete failure."
Mr Baglin, an anaesthetic support agency worker, admitted making the comments. He said he had done so because he was "aghast" at the large number of Caesarean procedures being carried out at the hospital.
"It was like every patient on the ward wanted one and had consented to them," he said. "It was an off-the-cuff comment. I admit it was inappropriate but I was being rushed around."
He insisted: "It was a sarcastic comment aimed at the doctor and it was a mistake on my part."
However, a female witness said the criticism was directed at Mrs Shepherd. She told the Health Professionals Committee, sitting at Park House, Kennington Park Road, south east London, that Mr Baglin "was so angry you could see the veins in his neck. He wanted to be an exhibitionist and he wanted it to be heard."
"He should be more considerate to women in that position," Mrs Shepherd said.
Mr Baglin, who now works in Derby, said he resigned from work at the hospital the day after the incident last February, when a formal complaint had been made against him.
The hospital reported Mr Baglin's outburst to his agency, confirming that it would not be employing him in future.
Luke is now alive and well. Mrs Shepherd said she would not use the hospital if she fell pregnant again.
A panel on the committee is to rule on whether Mr Baglin's fitness to practise is impaired. The hearing continues.
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