In a deeply moving and tragic case reported by the Nottingham Post, the parents of a baby have shown extraordinary compassion in the face of devastating loss.
Their story highlights the human cost of medical errors—and the importance of accountability, learning, and support in clinical negligence cases.
What happened?
The baby was born extremely prematurely at just 24 weeks, weighing only 610 grams.
He was transferred to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for specialist neonatal care.
On 30 April 2025, while critically unwell, the baby underwent a routine procedure to insert a “long line”—a thin tube used to deliver medication and nutrients directly into a vein.
Tragically, the line was inserted into the wrong vein.
Fluids leaked into his spinal column, causing irreversible damage.
Despite two opportunities to identify the error via X-rays, the mistake went unnoticed. The baby died two months later.
The inquest findings
At the inquest held on 1 October 2025, an assistant Coroner acknowledged that the consultants involved had followed the correct advice and could not be individually criticised.
However, the case revealed systemic issues, including:
- Misinterpretation of X-rays: The baby’s rotated position made it appear the line was correctly placed.
- Missed opportunities: Two X-rays could have revealed the error earlier.
- Staffing pressures: The neonatal unit was under significant strain, contributing to the oversight.
Dr Charlotte Goedvolk, who investigated the incident, described the neonatal unit as “extremely stressed,” with staff lacking time to thoroughly examine scans.
A father’s remarkable response
In a moment that touched many, the baby’s father addressed the medical staff directly:
“I love you all… You should all forgive yourselves, we’re all human and we all make mistakes.”
He urged the NHS to use his son’s case as a learning opportunity, not only to improve care but to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
What does this mean for families?
This case is a stark reminder that even routine procedures can go tragically wrong. While this family chose compassion, others may understandably seek answers, accountability, and justice.
If you or a loved one has experienced harm due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to:
- An independent investigation
- Compensation for pain, suffering, and financial loss
- Support in navigating the legal and medical systems
Comment
At Nelsons, our clinical negligence team understands the emotional and practical challenges families face after medical errors. We offer:
- Free initial consultations
- Sensitive, expert legal advice
- Support throughout the claims process
We believe in learning from every case—just as this family asked the NHS to do.
If you have concerns about the care you or a loved one received, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
How can we help?
Danielle Young is a Partner in our Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500. She specialises in pregnancy and birth injury claims (including cerebral palsy), brain injury claims, fatal claims, surgical error claims, and cauda equina injury claims.
If you have any questions in relation to the subjects discussed in this article, then please get in touch with Danielle or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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