Couple Sues Hospital and Doctor Over Stillbirth, Citing Negligence
An Antiguan couple has launched legal proceedings against the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and obstetrician Dr. Daryen Ephraim, alleging medical negligence led to the stillbirth of their baby in October 2022.
Gretchen Saunders-Christopher and her husband, Rody Christopher, are seeking compensation for emotional distress. Mrs. Saunders-Christopher has reportedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety following the incident.
The hospital sought to have the case dismissed on the grounds that it was filed outside the six-month window allowed under the Public Authorities Protection Act. However, Justice Carlos Michel ruled earlier this week that the question of limitation must be determined at trial, given its close connection to the negligence claims.
Both the hospital and Dr. Ephraim have denied the allegations, maintaining that the care provided met professional standards.
The trial is expected to span two days, focusing on both the issue of liability and whether the legal action was brought within the appropriate timeframe.
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This should be very interesting…..I found his bedside manner could use some improvement.
About time
Proving negligence in a case like dat I belive will be very difficult so ANR we depending on u for how the case go
Hhmm I have testimony about him and whatsapp messages to prove it. Smh….
This is a very interesting matter coming on the heels of the US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy’s recent disclosure that he received attention for stem cell treatment recently at a Clinic in Antigua and the broader implications for regulations and protection for both medical institutions and medical personnel locally. Since RFK’s announcement, much concerned has been expressed worldwide about experimental treatments at out local medical clinic that clearly falls outside of US regulation and safety protocols but one mistake or wrongdoing here has the potential to sully our name and reputation for good. Given the wide publicity of this RFK disclosure, I am calling on Government to quickly pass legislation to protect local institutions, doctors and nurses from frivolous lawsuits and actions that might occur. Antigua’ s name is on the block.
Yea just like that police boy foot they amputated
how does a case since 2022 still be valid in 2025 … however stillbirth cannot be avoided it just happens, I am deeply sorry the parents had to go through that especially the mother . 💔 I cannot begin to imagine the pain, heartache she went through my God . But many women end up having stillbirth babies & no explanation for it … Dr Ephraim is a great doctor though ive experience it for myself. If he is wrong then justice must be served but i just dont see how
About time they always killing ppl off up their and telling all kind of lies. Doing things to pregnant woman to cause damage to the unborn babies.one day GOD will avenge on mount St John’s for ALL the EVIL THEY DONE TO THE PPL UP AT THAT HOSPITAL…….MOUNT ST JOHN’S MEDICAL CENTER NEEED LOT OF PRAYERS
I hope they win and get a good chunk out of them, they deserve it.
Too many brutal treatment up there and negligence. My wife got cut from the doctor and its like he wanted to butcher her, all now she is in pain and sensitive in that area where he cut for the baby to come out. I was right there when he leaned over and before I could say anything, he cut her and its in an awkward position and cut twisted on one side. Who am I to question a doctor on his job ? But I am not stupid, I know a frig up when I see one.
That doctor left to go study more and is back there again to frig up more mothers.
Watch out for him…….cant call names
don’t call name, but drop a hint please
Let we forget that it is a public hospital and not a private one. Lawsuit against the hospital is actually lawsuit against the tax paying public including the person who is filing the lawsuit.
It’s called an episiotomy. That’s how the incision is made. thousands of women have these yearly.
I assume it is human nature that only when the shoe is squeezing you, then the clarion call is heard for “justice & proper accountability ” from our medical practitioners.
Many articles have been written on this news portal requesting for a tribunal to be set up for cases like this involving alleged ” negligence “, to be heard.
Anyway, better late than never. The time is long overdue!
Sorry for the parent’s lost of there baby
But I rather Dr Ephraim this doctor brought back my confidence when in 2005 I did a C Section and they had Cubans and Indian doctors who were doing all sort of crap to patients the way they cut and damage my stomach wall I lived with suffering of stomach issues for years until I had another child which my stomach wall was fixed and I was well looked after by Dr Emphraim some of the nurses at the hospital are pigs!!! and does not give a shit!! What I notice if you don’t have a private doctor and your just been sent from the community clinic they treat them like shit! worse experience at that hospital I’ve seen young ladies there in labour water bag burst nurses on there phone on social media doing there own thing while these girls are in labour once asked another young lady to call a nurse to assist a girl Who was in labour.. the young lady was sent back to the ward to inform the young lady who was in labour that the nurse said she was to come with a pad not noing how far or low the young lady baby is to walk come around to the desk… I was hurt and pissed cause I could not assist the young lady due to my fresh surgery but was so determined to get out of that place the third day after my surgery I got my ass up to walk so I could get out of that unprofessional place.
Dr Ephraim a the best doctor me say cause no other doctor go do way he do for people!! I pray to god that the real truth comes to light more to this than we no. Let god work
All I can say based on my experience in January of this year is whenever you’re going to that hospital to give birth make sure someone is with you always and pray, especially if you have to go theater. 🙏🙏 Only God knows.
Did they say professional standards 😅I remember my miscarriage and having my daughter at this place worst experience ever imagine having a baby an right after being rushed off the bed with no help and no assistance to clean yourself up. Then being in a bloody bed for two days no one checking in you to clean your sheets lets me not forget i was told oh don’t dirty up the sheet because we don’t have anymore clean ones and the horror continued smh!!!!
My miscarriage i was left in a room unattended when this whole situation happened i was asked by a young nurse oh you had a baby before right i said yes she said so you know what to do and she left me there i nearly bled to death if it wasn’t for a lady who was opposite me heard me screaming for the nurse an started screaming too by the time they got to me my eyes were already rolled bk mind you they were in the hall way laughing and chatting loudly it was only when they saw that i was becoming unconscious they rushed for their machines smh nothing at allllll about that place is professional NOTHINGGGG!!!!
@ Wadadliman 1
Thank you for reminding us that SLBMC/MSJMC is a PUBLIC HOSPITAL, funded in very large part, through OUR TAX DOLLARS (by way of direct tax on income to Medical Benefits Scheme – MBS, and possibly by subvention from the Treasury too).
But I want to be sure that I understand what you are trying to tell us by pointing that out.
I hope you are not saying that citizens of Antigua & Barbuda should NOT HOLD OUR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS ACCOUNTABLE TO DELIVER PROPER, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT MEDICAL CARE AND SERVICES? Tell me that you are NOT saying that when they fail so to do, or they are NEGLIGENT in their duties, that we should REFRAIN from pursuing LEGAL REDRESS, because it might be a BURDEN on the Treasury?
Please Sir or Madam, tell me that I’m misinterpreting your comment!
If indeed I DID NOT misinterpret your comment, let me posit that it is about DAMN TIME SOMEBODY TAKE THIS ACTION, and as we say in local parlance, “clap one lawsuit under dem backside”!
For far too long, citizens of Antigua & Barbuda have suffered at the hands of the medical practitioners in this country! Of course there are some who do OK particularly in their PRIVATE PRACTICES and maybe at the clinics or the hospital. And I do know, that each person’s experience might be different – the same DOCTOR or NURSE who ensures that I have a good experience, could treat other patients like “discarded materials”. Some doctors have the distinction of being HOGS, to patients and staff alike, both in their PRIVATE PRACTICES AND AT THE HOSPITAL, and yet they hold elevated positions at the SLBMC/MSJMC , subjecting all those they deem ‘less than’, to the same DISDAIN!
In this country, doctors tend to feel INSULTED if a patient wants to get a second opinion! Like if one is questioning their qualifications and certifications!
HOW IS IT NOT A GOOD THING FOR ANY DOCTOR TO RECOMMEND THAT ANY PATIENT GET A SECOND, OR EVEN THIRD OPINION? In my opinion, it suggests that the practitioner is so confident in his/her diagnosis, and that he/she is providing the best/correct path of care to address the patient’s issue, that he/she is willing to be put under scrutiny.
IT ALSO SHOWS TRANSPARENCY – we should expect transparency in EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY, not only from politicians! MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS TOO!
I daresay, if enough people follow through with holding the hospital and medical practitioners accountable, if enough of our lawyers/attorneys/solicitors stopped being spineless and take on the cases of negligence against hospital(s), medical practitioners, (and I’m going to throw in the government here too), then maybe, just maybe, the TYPE AND QUALITY of MEDICAL CARE we get here in Antigua & Barbuda will drastically improve.
Especially if the complainants are successful, if negligence is proven and damages are awarded! If both the practitioners and the hospital have to pay handsomely, GUARANTEED THEY WILL ALL DO BETTER QUICKLY!
I fully support this patient’s lawsuit, and I pray that they prove their case, that the judge has the testicular fortitude to act with impartiality and award damages accordingly.
If the Treasury has to pay, let it pay!
If the Treasury can pay out dearly when politicians’ egos exceed common sense, and public purse has to pay big money to hoteliers, and transportation managers, and other people. Eventually, we will hopefully put laws on the books to make sure that the person who is negligent, or cause the suit to be brought PAYS THE DAMAGES.
In the meantime, we watch to see how this matter will proceed and what the outcome will be!
Good luck Mr. & Mrs. Christopher! Hope you win your case!
I can call negligence on this hospital on so many occasions pertaining to the maternity ward. I’ve went from being giving medication that was listed in red on my chart as a death allergent that almost took the life of myself and my unborn child all while in labor to arriving at the hospital at 15 weeks 5 day with vaginal bleeding and being told to sit on a chair for what was over 3 hours before seeing a gyne…. Oh and let’s not talk about how i was admitted to the hospital because i got a UTI while i was pregnant and as an allergy patient told the doctor i was allergic to penicillin and he still prescribed Augmentin for me to take and by the grace of God i made a few stops before going home to take said medicationand as i reached home i got a call stating not to take it because it has exactly what i told him i was allergic to, and later ended up being admittedto maternity with an infection spreading to my kidneys and having to have what was already a scheduled csection pushed up to ensure the safety of both myself and my baby. Or maybe after having the said csection I had a fever and I told the nurse(the same one who treated me poorly with my first born) that I had a fever and her reply was “how do you know that?” and was never looked from that night at 6pm until the next morning at doctors hand over. At that point doctor Abbott could see I was physically ill and asked if i was okay because was under a blanket wrapped up. As I explained to him how I was feeling he checked my temperature and it was at a 100.1 and had and infection that nearly took my life only a day after surgery. So I stand with you on your decision to sue because only who feels it knows it!
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