Arabic version: الطبيبة الشرعية تجد أن وفاة هوغو ماكغريغور لم يكن بالإمكان منعها

According to ABC News, Queensland Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher found that the 2023 death of newborn Hugo McGregor was caused by a brain injury from a lack of oxygen and was not preventable. Hugo was born by emergency caesarean section at Mackay Base Hospital in March 2023, transferred to Townsville University Hospital and died five days later.

In findings delivered on Wednesday, Magistrate Gallagher said there were no missed opportunities that may have changed the outcome. She accepted it was theoretically possible that an earlier delivery could have resulted in Hugo being born in better condition, but said expert evidence found the care provided to Hugo and his mother, Jenna McGregor, was reasonable and appropriate. The findings said there were no prospective reasons for an earlier delivery, additional intervention or escalation beyond what occurred.

The coroner listed the cause of death as hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy caused by a sudden and profound onset of bradycardia, or slow heart rate. The inquest heard Hugo was born pale, floppy and unresponsive before being resuscitated. An autopsy found signs of infection and inflammation in the placenta, which likely impaired its function and increased the baby’s metabolic demands.

Jenna McGregor arrived at Mackay at 6am on March 11, 2023, after being transferred from Proserpine because no anaesthetists were on call there due to fatigue. She requested an epidural at 9:10am, which was administered two hours later. Hugo’s heart rate suffered a sudden and profound drop at 4:01pm, and he had been bradycardic for about 18 minutes by the time she reached the operating theatre, the findings said.

Hugo’s father, Andre McGregor, said he was deeply disappointed and would apply to the state coroner to have the findings set aside. He said an earlier internal review had identified shortcomings in care and called for greater transparency and safer maternity care in Queensland. Magistrate Gallagher noted the hospital had made changes, including obstetric ward rounds and staff-culture improvements, and found no further recommendations were needed.