Medical Misadventure or Manslaughter? A Tragic Childbirth Tale

Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor are filled with joy at the prospect of welcoming their newborn into the world.

Tragically, their world is turned upside down when what should have been a routine childbirth becomes a horrifying series of events that end in the loss of their baby. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the deeply disturbing story of a young couple who were denied the chance to bond with their deceased child. They explore the complex layers of emotion, science, and legality surrounding the case.

From a shocking refusal to permit an autopsy, to startling revelations of the baby's decapitation, the hosts scrutinize every angle. They underscore the necessity for trust between medical professionals and patients, particularly when the stakes are this high. 

Time-coded Highlights:

00:00:20 — Joseph Scott Morgan delves into the human need for tactile confirmation during grief, emphasizing the irreplaceable role touch plays in coping with a loved one's death.

00:02:40 — Dave Mack begins the narration of Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor's story, and ​​describes the complications that arose during the delivery. 

00:05:00 — The condition called “shoulder dystocia” is explained by Joe Scott. 

00:08:11 — A distinction between stillbirth and sudden infant death is made by Morgan. 

00:10:42 — Morgan addresses the perilous state of the mother during childbirth, pondering on medical errors that can tip the scale from life to death.

00:11:46 — A conversation around the shocking force needed to fracture an infant’s bones brings listeners to a grim realization about the case.

00:13:00 — The timeline of the events is shared by Mack, highlighting the urgency and critical nature of the situation at hand.

00:13:54 — Parents in the dark: Mack discusses the hospital’s lack of transparency concerning the baby's condition.

00:15:42 — Exploring emotional trauma, Morgan reveals how the young couple missed a crucial bonding moment with their baby due to medical complications.

00:16:16 — Mack raises the curtain on the grim reality that the parents were actively deceived about the state of their child.

00:17:20 — Joseph Scott Morgan sheds light on the hospital's suggestion to avoid an autopsy and opt for cremation, deepening the layers of this tragic tale.

00:18:40 — The term "medical misadventure" is introduced by Morgan, who likens the medical failures in the case to manslaughter.

00:20:40 — In any medical tragedy, trust is paramount, emphasizes Morgan, particularly when the stakes are a matter of life and death.

00:21:40 — The legal implications come into play as Morgan articulates that this case should have been immediately reported to medical legal authorities.

00:24:06 — Mack discusses the parents' decision to hire Dr. Jackson Gates for an independent autopsy, and the shocking revelation that images of the decapitated baby were posted on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.