Category: pregnancy

Why are pregnant women in prison? – Coventry University

Posted January 31st, 2022 in criminal justice, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, prisons, women by sally

‘The aim of this study is to find out why pregnant women spend time in prison, on remand, on recall from licence conditions and on sentence. Research shows that women very rarely commit violent or serious crime, and very few women present any kind of danger to the public. Research also identifies that pregnant women are especially vulnerable and in need of extra care – so this raises critical questions about the incarceration of pregnant women. ‘

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Coventry University, November 2021

Source: www.coventry.ac.uk

Call to stop jailing pregnant women in England after baby dies in prison toilet – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2022 in bereavement, birth, death in custody, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, women by tracey

‘Vulnerable pregnant women are being imprisoned for non-violent offences, in some cases within just a few weeks of their babies’ due date, according to new research set to be published on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMP Styal: Prisoner who had stillborn baby ‘will never forgive jail’ – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2022 in birth, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, prisons by tracey

‘A prisoner who gave birth to a stillborn baby in the toilet of a cell has said she “will never forgive the prison” for the “horror death”. Louise Powell, 31, who did not know she was pregnant, said she begged for an ambulance before her baby died at HMP Styal in Cheshire in 2020. She told BBC Newsnight she was left alone when she was “crying for help”.
The Prisons and Probations Ombudsman found there were “missed opportunities” to identify her urgent clinical needs.’

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BBC News, 11th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man handed life sentence for attacking girlfriend and killing her unborn baby – The Independent

Posted January 7th, 2022 in assault, children, domestic violence, families, grievous bodily harm, homicide, imprisonment, news, perverting the course of justice, pregnancy, sentencing by tracey

‘A man has been handed a life sentence for attacking his girlfriend and killing her unborn child.’

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The Independent, 6th January 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Doctors up in arms over ‘pre-conception negligence’ ruling – Legal Futures

Posted December 20th, 2021 in birth, children, damages, disabled persons, doctors, health, negligence, news, pregnancy by sally

‘Hundreds of doctors around the country, along with representative organisations, have spoken out over the High Court finding a GP negligent for advice given to a mother before conception which led to the birth of a disabled child.’

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Legal Futures, 20th December 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Stillborn baby’s parents receive £2.8m from Nottingham hospital trust – BBC News

Posted December 6th, 2021 in birth, causing death of children or vulnerable adults, children, compensation, damages, families, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A couple whose child died in the womb after mistakes by maternity staff have received a £2.8m settlement.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Abortion Act 1967 and Down Syndrome: Crowter – Law & Religion UK

Posted December 6th, 2021 in abortion, disabled persons, human rights, news, pregnancy, time limits by sally

‘In R (Crowter & Ors) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2021] EWHC 2536 (Admin), the issue before the Court was the fact that the Abortion Act 1967 differentiates between pregnancies where there is a substantial risk that, if born, a child would be “seriously handicapped” (the terminology used in the Act) and those where it would not. The three claimants – a 25-year-old woman with Down Syndrome who had gained an NVQ qualification level, was employed and had recently married, A, a two-year-old with Down Syndrome who had met all his developmental milestones, and A’s mother [6-8] – challenged the disability ground for abortion in section 1(1)(d) of the Act as contrary to Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (inhuman or degrading treatment) and 8 (private and family life) ECHR.’

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Law & Religion UK, 3rd December 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Jailed women in UK five times more likely to suffer stillbirths, data shows – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2021 in bail, bills, birth, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, prisons, sentencing, statistics, women by sally

‘Women in prison are five times more likely to have a stillbirth and twice as likely to give birth to a premature baby that needs special care, new data collected by the Observer shows.’

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The Guardian, December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Married lesbian couple launch discrimination action against NHS – The Guardian

Posted November 8th, 2021 in equality, families, homosexuality, hospitals, medical treatment, news, pregnancy, sexual orientation discrimination by tracey

‘A married lesbian couple are launching a landmark legal test case against a branch of the NHS fertility sector in England, claiming it discriminates against LGBT+ families.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

East Kent baby deaths: Trust was short of staff – BBC News

Posted October 15th, 2021 in birth, causing death of children or vulnerable adults, children, hospitals, midwives, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, quality assurance by tracey

‘There were not enough maternity staff to keep mothers and babies safe at a hospital trust at the centre of a baby deaths scandal, inspectors have found.’

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BBC News, 15th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Richmond man who bit and throttled pregnant woman jailed – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2021 in assault, harassment, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, restraining orders, sentencing by tracey

‘A man who bit and throttled a pregnant woman during a 14-month campaign of abuse has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 12th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More NHS maternity units criticised for poor cultures, bullying and staff shortages – The Independent

Posted October 1st, 2021 in birth, bullying, employment, hospitals, midwives, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by tracey

‘Two more NHS maternity units have been criticised by the care watchdog over concerns about safety, with inspectors highlighting poor cultures and bullying as well as staff shortages leaving midwives visibly upset.’

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The Independent, 1st October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fear of more baby deaths as ministers stand firm on jailing pregnant women – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2021 in bereavement, birth, children, criminal justice, government departments, health & safety, imprisonment, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, prisons by sally

‘Experts have warned that more babies could die in prison owing to the government’s expansion of female prison places and ministers’ refusal to grant multiple requests to end the incarceration of pregnant women.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS trusts wrongly billing vulnerable migrants for maternity care, says charity – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2021 in asylum, birth, domestic violence, fees, hospitals, immigration, midwives, news, pregnancy, refugees, trafficking in human beings, women by tracey

‘NHS trusts are wrongly hounding vulnerable migrant women for payment of bills of thousands of pounds for maternity care, according to a report.’

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The Guardian, 17th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog criticises hospital bosses for widespread bullying – The Independent

Posted September 15th, 2021 in birth, bullying, equality, hospitals, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, quality assurance, race discrimination by tracey

‘Inspectors have rated the leadership of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust as inadequate after hearing of widespread bullying and staff fearful of raising concerns.’

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The Independent, 15th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hospital admits liability for baby’s death after ignoring mother’s concerns – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2021 in birth, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A hospital has admitted liability for the death of a baby who was delivered stillborn three days after his mother’s complaints of fluid loss and severe pain were dismissed as wetting the bed.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Frozen eggs and sperm storage limit increased to 55 years – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2021 in children, families, government departments, medical treatment, news, pregnancy, time limits by tracey

‘Storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos will go up to 55 years under government plans that ministers say will give people greater choice over when to start a family.’

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BBC News, 6th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Khan (Respondent) v Meadows (Appellant) [2021] UKSC 21 – Hailsham Chambers

Posted July 29th, 2021 in appeals, autism, chambers articles, children, damages, doctors, duty of care, negligence, news, pregnancy, Supreme Court by sally

‘In this highly anticipated judgment, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal and held that the Defendant doctor was only liable for losses which fell within the scope of her duty of care, thereby significantly reducing the damages recoverable by the Claimant.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 21st July 2021

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Firm that dismissed pregnant trainee cleared of discrimination – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 9th, 2021 in employment tribunals, equality, news, pregnancy, sex discrimination, solicitors by michael

‘A criminal defence firm has been cleared of discrimination allegations after telling a trainee solicitor she was being let go three weeks after she said she was pregnant.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘More work to do’ to improve Nottingham maternity units – BBC News

Posted May 28th, 2021 in birth, causing death of children or vulnerable adults, children, hospitals, inquests, inquiries, negligence, news, pregnancy, quality assurance by tracey

‘More needs to be done to bring maternity units at a city’s two main hospitals up to scratch, inspectors have said.’

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BBC News, 28th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk