Quelly-Ann still weeps for baby Simeon

Memories of holding her dead baby.

Baby Simeon was delivered via Caesarian-section on March 1, 2014, at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital. However, he lived for just five hours before bleeding to death from a laceration to the head during the surgery. Doctors failed to perform surgery to stop the bleeding, despite pleas from the specialist obstetrician who made the laceration to the baby’s head, when he cut too deep into Cottle’s womb, during the c-section procedure.

Gynaecologist/consultant Dr Javed Chinnia, who had performed the surgery, was suspended with pay. A team comprising United Kingdom specialist Dr Melanie Clare Davies, neonatologist Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne and chaired by retired Justice Mustapha Ibrahim was appointed by attorney general (at the time) Anand Ramlogan to probe baby Simeon’s death.

The Council of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago had cleared Dr Chinnia of any wrongdoing arising out of the baby’s death, something that has caused further grief for Cottle and her family. The Board’s report stated that Chinnia, “did not commit any infamous and/or disgraceful conduct in accordance with Section 24 of the Medical Board Act (1960).” The investigating panel received $1.8 million for its services, while Cottle is still awaiting compensation.

She is being represented by attorney Michael Coppin. Cottle is claiming damages, “for the loss of satisfaction of bringing her pregnancy to a successful conclusion and loss associated with the death of Simeon Cottle.” She is also claiming damages for “pain and suffering including psychological harm and mental distress caused by the joint and several negligence of the first and second defendants in the operation and management of injuries to Simeon Cottle resulting in the death of Simeon Cottle.” She is also seeking damages for the future cost of psychological care, and special damages.

In the suit, Cottle is claiming for “damages for loss of expectation of life, damages for pain and suffering arising out of the joint and several negligence of the first and second defendants in the operation and management of injuries.” In December 2015, Cottle rejected a $215,000 settlement proposed by the North-Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), under advisement of her attorney.

Speaking with Newsday, Cottle said that to date -- three years after she lost her baby son --- she has not received any positive news from the NCRHA under whose jurisdiction, the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital falls. She said the hospital has asked for an extension.

“Every day is a memory. The whole process is not an easy thing for me. I dont have a baby anymore.

I still have friends from hospital when I was there and I look at their babies and I say, ‘they all have their babies, but I don’t have mine’. It still hurts, but life has to go on,” Cottle said.

Cottle’s doctor has ruled her as medically unfit due to untold amount of stress, and therefore she cannot work. She worked as a security guard before she was pregnant. She is now receiving disability from Social Services. Cottle said while the Self Help Commission had promised to assist in helping her complete her humble dwelling in Cumuto, so far she has not received anything.