HSE apologises to family of Limerick woman who died after giving birth at home. Our Scarlett O’Sullivan represented the family of Laura Liston at an inquest where a medical misadventure verdict was returned. Laura passed away hours after giving birth in a birthing pool in the presence of two community midwives at her home in Croom on 5 June 2022.
After the verdict, solicitor Scarlett O’Sullivan gave a statement outside Kilmallock courthouse, on behalf of Mr Mannion and the Liston family.
She said the case was not about being pro or anti home births, but about finding out what happened to Laura on that fateful night.
“The inquest highlights the urgent need to ensure basic clinical standards and protocols are followed in maternity care which were unfortunately lacking in Laura’s case with fatal consequences,” she said.
“It highlights the critical importance of clear and effective note keeping and abiding by the IMEWS early warning system.”
“Laura expected as part of her care that if complications arose that she would be transferred as a matter of urgency to her local hospital.
“Unfortunately that happened too late for Laura,” Ms O’Sullivan said.