19 votes

Prison guards, but not mother, get counselling after baby dies in cell

4 comments

  1. [2]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link

    A vulnerable 18-year-old whose baby died after her calls for help were ignored as she gave birth alone in a prison cell was not provided with bereavement support – but the prison guards who failed to get her medical assistance were offered counselling, the Observer can reveal.

    The young woman, in prison for the first time, was on remand facing a charge of robbery. She went into labour, and records show that on the evening of 26 September 2019 she called for help three times but none came.

    By 11pm she was in constant pain and unable to reach her cell bell. After passing out, she came round to find her baby girl was there but not breathing. She bit through the umbilical cord and tried to wipe the blood from her cell before climbing into bed.

    10 votes
    1. Grzmot
      Link Parent
      First world country... FIRST WORLD COUNTRY What do you even say to that?!

      First world country...

      FIRST WORLD COUNTRY

      What do you even say to that?!

      3 votes
  2. stu2b50
    Link
    I wonder what the thought process was. This was in the UK, so it's not like there should be any qualms about just calling an ambulance and calling it a day for the guards.

    I wonder what the thought process was. This was in the UK, so it's not like there should be any qualms about just calling an ambulance and calling it a day for the guards.

    7 votes
  3. Bullmaestro
    Link
    The guards who ignored her pleas for help should be facing gross negligence manslaughter charges, not offered counselling because apparently the prison system needs to kiss their boo-boo's and not...

    The guards who ignored her pleas for help should be facing gross negligence manslaughter charges, not offered counselling because apparently the prison system needs to kiss their boo-boo's and not the vulnerable 18-year-old pregnant woman's.

    I don't give a damn if she's an inmate facing serious charges or not. They knew she was pregnant and should have prepared for the possibility that she'd go into labour.

    4 votes