Sometimes there's no justice to be found at all. I know this from experience. Here's my story - long but I'll try and condense it as much as I can.
I was 32+ weeks pregnant and spent all day in hospital after arriving in the morning with just a spot of blood. By the end of the day my uterus had ruptured and my baby died. (To make a long sad story short).
So many people were involved and so many filled out my medical reports, saying only what they wanted to say and no where near the truth of what happened that day, and writing one word, 'ultrasound' in the 3+ hour time frame that counted!
I have both a birth certificate and a death certificate for my child. Death certificate (which was received and filled in first so we could bury our baby) said he lived an hour, which would fit in with the Dr telling me after he was born that she didn't think my son would make it), then birth certificate which was written and received much later said he was stillborn.
ITS ILLEGAL FOR STILLBORN BABIES TO BE ISSUED DEATH CERTIFICATES.
The hospital changed their story - why? Because nobody would question a hospital when they say a child's been stillborn, but if they said he died after birth - BIG questions to answer for!
I took all the papers I had gathered to a barrister who forwarded only these onto medical professionals who agreed (based on what the hospital had written, not my personal account which I also wrote out) that the hospital was right! They accepted a 1 word answer - 'ultrasound' for more than 3 hours of hospital stay during which time I was in severe pain and my uterus ruptured! I tried many times to make the barrister understand that a lot happened in that 3 hours, not just a simple 'ultrasound', but because that's all the hospital wrote that's all they cared about, like it would be too much trouble to delve further into it than just reading what was written. I reiterated time and time again, stillborns legally can not have Death certificates, yet it meant nothing to them.
That started over 2 yrs ago. There's only 3 yrs in which you can begin a legal case in and I've only around 6mths left. I've had another baby since and have been trying to just accept what they say, that the hospital is right, but I'm finding it really hard because I know it's not at all true.
Do you think a worth trying again with another barrister or do you think ill get the same kind if response - they will only read what the hospital has written and won't question why 1 word for 3 hrs of hospital stay during a crucial time is adequate.
Is there any way I can get my sons birth certificate changed from still born to whatever it is rightfully meant to be without fighting my cause completely?
I rang the dept of births deaths and marriages and they pretty much just said that's what the hospital wrote so there's nothing they can do about it (again, despite the fact it's illegal here in NSW for a stillborn to have both certificates!)
It really frustrates me. It keeps me up at night (still after all this time). I feel like no one can hear me and I've been swept under the carpet.
What should I do?
My child has both a Death & Birth Certificate. Birth certificate (issued 2nd) says he was stillborn. ITS ILLEGAL FOR STILLBORNS TO HAVE BOTH
My child has both a Death & Birth Certificate. Birth certificate (issued 2nd) says he was stillborn. ITS ILLEGAL FOR STILLBORNS TO HAVE BOTH
Posted in:
Loss & Grief, Loss of a Child (My Story)
1 Replies
I have no idea what you should do. I think and who knows I've never been in your situation. I think you need to decide what will bring you close to closure whatever that is for you. Sometimes there are no answers though in life and by changing the certificates would that change anything? What would you be achieving? Do you suspect the hospital contributed to your babies death? I'd very much consider some counselling if you haven't already as it may help you clear your head and gain some clarity.