Second lawsuit follows allegations of decapitation during childbirth

A young couple from Georgia, Jessica Ross, 20, and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., 21, who had previously filed a lawsuit against an OBGYN in connection with the alleged decapitation death of their baby during childbirth, has now filed a second lawsuit against another doctor responsible for conducting the infant’s autopsy. The family claims that they were further traumatized when graphic images of the autopsy were shared online.

The tragic incident occurred in July when the couple’s first baby passed away during childbirth. In August, they filed a lawsuit accusing Dr. Tracey St. Julian and Southern Regional Medical Center of medical malpractice, gross negligence, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that excessive force was used during delivery, resulting in the decapitation of the infant.

The family’s attorney, Roderick Edmond, stated during a press conference that the family was subjected to additional distress when they discovered that images of their deceased infant’s body were posted on the Instagram page of the pathologist responsible for the autopsy.

According to Edmond, the attending doctor initially denied the laboring mother a C-section and applied excessive force to the baby’s head and neck when it became stuck. An emergency C-section eventually took place, but the baby’s head, which had been separated, was delivered vaginally.

As part of their investigation into the child’s death, the family enlisted the services of independent pathologist Dr. Jackson Gates, paying him $2,500 to perform an independent autopsy. However, a few days later, family members reportedly saw pictures of the newborn’s decapitated head posted on Instagram.

Dr. Gates defended himself on his Instagram page, stating that the photos and videos were taken for “educational purposes.” Edmond criticized this defense during the press conference, questioning the educational value of such images and condemning the actions as “diabolical.”

Both lawsuits are currently pending, and an ongoing multi-agency investigation into the child’s death has been initiated.

In the initial lawsuit, the family alleged that the baby became stuck during a 10-hour labor on July 9. They claimed to have requested a C-section earlier but were denied. The lawsuit accused Dr. St. Julian of using excessive force during delivery. When a C-section was eventually performed, the baby’s heartbeat had stopped. The suit alleged that the baby’s torso and legs were surgically delivered while the head was delivered vaginally. The hospital was accused of concealing the decapitation by wrapping the baby tightly in a blanket.

Southern Regional Medical Center responded to the allegations by stating that Dr. St. Julian was not an employee of the hospital. They denied the allegations but refrained from providing further details.

A hospital statement expressed condolences and emphasized their commitment to providing compassionate, quality care to all patients.