Family to Pursue Legal Action Over Death of Young Mother at Antigua Hospital

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Family to Seek Legal Action After Death of Young Mother at Antigua Hospital

The sudden death of 25-year-old Shenikica Baptiste, a resident of Cook’s Estate, has prompted her relatives to seek legal advice and consider formal action against the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

Baptiste, who was nine months pregnant, was admitted to the hospital’s maternity ward on 4 September with abdominal pain. Doctors scheduled her for a Caesarean section, which was reported as successful. Soon after, however, medical staff observed complications, including a drop in her oxygen levels. She was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit.

Relatives say she had shown no signs of illness before admission and had no known underlying conditions. The family has questioned how someone described as being in good health could deteriorate so rapidly following what was expected to be a routine procedure.

According to hospital staff, further monitoring was carried out to determine whether Baptiste had developed pneumonia or another infection. A Covid-19 test was also administered as part of the investigations, but the initial result was negative. Medical staff later placed her in an induced coma in an attempt to stabilise her condition. Despite these measures, she died while under intensive care.

Family members who were present at the hospital say they were informed of developments only in stages, and some expressed frustration at not being given sufficient information about her treatment and the medications administered. They maintain that the sequence of events raised unanswered questions, particularly as the newborn child was also placed under observation with similar symptoms.

The case has left relatives deeply concerned about standards of care and communication at the hospital. They are now preparing to take legal steps to determine whether negligence played a role in Baptiste’s death and to seek accountability from the authorities.

EARLIER REPORT:

The family of 25-year-old Shenikica Baptiste is demanding answers and considering legal action after her sudden death at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

Baptiste, who was nine months pregnant, was admitted on 4 September with abdominal pain and scheduled for a Caesarean section. Relatives say the procedure was declared successful, but her condition deteriorated shortly afterwards. She was transferred to intensive care, where she later died.

Her sister, Karina Simon, said that Baptiste had been in good health adding that doctors mentioned pneumonia and carried out a Covid-19 test, which returned negative.

Family members said they were not kept properly informed and raised questions about the drugs administered during her stay. They maintain her death could have been prevented and are calling for accountability from the hospital.

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41 COMMENTS

  2. Gn my condolences to the family and I hope the family don’t give up case they are doing a lot of shit at mount st John’s and belive that it wouldn’t come to light i had my experience in June then my death in late August Mr Joseph need to look in to what is taking place at mount st John’s

  4. The family has every right to feel the way they do. Trust me. I know that family and they are always close and together. Imagine sending your young, healthy daughter to the hospital to give birth, only to lose her during the process. I am not saying the medical people killed hetr but mistakes hapoen we are humans and poor judgment also. That is something no family should have to go through. In Antigua, people know when something doesn’t add up, and the family deserves clear answers. The hospital cannot just dismiss this situation and expect everyone to stay quiet. If the family chooses to take legal action, it is understandable, because sometimes that is the only way to get justice. A life was lost, and that cannot be taken lightly

  5. I use to blame hospital until I became a mom I was 6 month pregnant an develop heart condition during an after pregnancy even had a heart attack I use to blame hospital until I became a mom I was 6 month pregnant an develop heart condition during an after pregnancy even had a heart attack

    Sometimes the doctors are not at fault pregnancy is risky I was healthy until I became pregnant I developed all sort a problem even problems I never knew I had I even had silent hesrt attack
    Am sure the doctors did all they could with her it’s a sad suitation a baby gonna live without her or his mom I pray the family fine peace
    Am always afraid of C section anything can happen

  7. Murdah she wrote. I saw some comments on a Tourist Vlog about MSJMC and even the tourists are been warned to stay clear and far away from what some a calling a death trap. They need to be investigated like the police.

  8. THAT HOSPITAL NEED A INTERVENTION FROM GOD TOO MUCH UNNECESSARY DEATH. TOO MUCH NEGLECTFUL DOC, N NURSEES..TOO MUCH LODGES WORKERS. ..YOU HAVE GREAT NURSES AND DOCTORS .BUT IF ANY OF THEM DON’T REACH U MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL…… MOUNT ST JOHNS NEED PRAYERS A LOT…MAY THIS BE ON THE A GENDER OF NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING . CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY THERE IS NO WORD BUT MAY GRANT U ALL PEACE AND COMFORT. N MAY HE AVENGED HER DEATH IF IT WAS WRONGFUL… WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO SEE THE WRONGS AT THAT HOSPITAL. IF NOT DARE GOD PLEASE INTERVENE…AMEN 😭😭😭😭😭IN JESUS NAME AMEN

  10. Wow. As God i can definitely say a lot about that place . I just leave there a month ago and on God i had to help everyone that I was in the room with. And I also just push out a child.

  11. SLBMC needs proper accountability.

    Many cases seem to be swept under the carpet causing many patients to be facing post surgery traumas for the rest of their lives and the authorities are turning a blind eye.

    Who feels knows it.

    It is only those in the kitchen who feel the heat……

  12. This is soo close to home for me… This place is death sentence. There was a post a few weeks ago about visiting hours, now somebody please tell me of that is more important than making sure your staff are fully trained and are caring out the job they are paid to do.. I lost my 30 year old cousin who walked into emergency and came out in a body bag. My dad again strong independent man went in and died after being in full spirits the night before… when we got to hospital he was cold which means he had been dead awhile before they called…

    They need to do better we only have one hospital why are we letting our own people down by being slap dash and negligent. All the borrow funds Gaston a bid fir he never once think to get investment for the hospital whyyyyy because you can get on a plane if its serious…

    As a medical professional myself it breaks my heart to read this story SLBMS I am pleading with you to get some serious training for staff.. in the UK any sudden death has to go to a panel where the notes are scrutinized and any failures are identified and used for learning.. we call it learning from incidences.. you have people who are there just for money, that is not the place for that mentality this is people lives you are playing with.. if you don’t enjoy the job go find something else to do..

    For all the heath care professional who are negligent in any death in hospital you have blood on your hands and GOD is not sleeping.

    Another child without a mother
    Gaston please put the hospital on your priority list

  13. This is soo close to home for me… This place is death sentence. There was a post a few weeks ago about visiting hours, now somebody please tell me of that is more important than making sure your staff are fully trained and are caring out the job they are paid to do.. I lost my 30 year old cousin who walked into emergency and came out in a body bag. My dad again strong independent man went in and died after being in full spirits the night before… when we got to hospital he was cold which means he had been dead awhile before they called…

    They need to do better we only have one hospital why are we letting our own people down by being slap dash and negligent. All the borrow funds Gaston a bid fir he never once think to get investment for the hospital whyyyyy because you can get on a plane if its serious…

    As a medical professional myself it breaks my heart to read this story SLBMS I am pleading with you to get some serious training for staff.. in the UK any sudden death has to go to a panel where the notes are scrutinized and any failures are identified and used for learning.. we call it learning from incidences.. you have people who are there just for money, that is not the place for that mentality this is people lives you are playing with.. if you don’t enjoy the job go find something else to do..

    For all the heath care professional who are negligent in any death in hospital you have blood on your hands and GOD is not sleeping.

    Another child without a mother
    Gaston please put the hospital on your priority list

  15. Dear Antiguanewsroom

    You have been a pillar and a cornerstone in our society, the corner shop camera and the voice for so many. Through your writing and videos, you’ve helped shape our communities and bring forward the results we often pray for. Antiguanewsroom has made even the most difficult situations just a little easier to face, and we, your loyal followers, truly appreciate all that you do.

  17. I’m tired of the lackadaisical behavior and negligence we get from the center that suppose to make us better! An investigation needs to be done so thoroughly. Yes all blames can’t be on the nurses or doctors cause we aren’t sure of what happened leading to the young mother’s death but let’s be for real in circumstances like these! What will the higher heads do? And yet another report on the hospital in less than no time, let’s see the change that will be made by Antigua.news video! Let’s hear what the hospital has to say!

  18. 3 young ladies died in that same ward, PM and Joseph go get the doctor just like you put one one leave for American daughter, this might help 3 votes lost.

  19. All these comments acting like they should not take legal action let every hospital be accountable for ppl reasons why health care so poor in Antigua and Barbuda no one thinks they should be sued and be held accountable Mr. JOSEPH YOU SEE THIS, THESE DOCTORS CUT A TEENAGER ONCE FOR APPENDIX THEY CUT FROM VAG TO BREAST LIKE A HOG TO THE SLATER VERIFY THEIR CREDENTIALS WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND SCHOOL THEY ATTENDED NO C-C-SECTION SHOULD CAUSE DEATH IN 2025 HANDLE THE COMPLICATIONS THAT CAUSE DEATH BETTER CARE PLEASE.

  20. I would understand how the family feel and how you would be feeling but how can one determine when someone is healthy by looking in the face and determine that or it’s only a medical practitioner can determine such? how many times persons go to bed looking healthy, happy and joyful and then never wake the next day? In every surgery, it’s a possibility for complication to develop afterwards and that is not her first c-section it’s her third……the first thing that comes to people mind is legal action/ lawsuit that will not bring her back My condolences to the family. I pray you pull through with strength 💪

  21. This nonsense has been happening for too long at the hospital and the relevant authorities aren’t doing anything about it. In less than a month, three young ladies have died during child birth on that same ward in the same hospital. It’s time for them to take accountability.

    They need to also investigate the knock off medication that they’re administering to patients.

  23. Alright…So let me give my longgggggggggggggg comment. After seeing this I sat her wondering what I could say without teking sides. Let me start by saying that this is a heartbreaking situation all around. On one hand, the family has every right to ask questions and demand answers.l I am after all losing a healthy young woman during childbirth is devastating, and the pain they feel is unimaginable. They deserve clarity, accountability, and compassion. But on the other hand, the doctors and nurses who cared for her are also human. The truth is, both sides are hurting. I saw that little sister crying and it made me feel some type of way. The family has lost a daughter, a sister, and a mother. The medical team has lost a patient they fought to save (I am sure)… What’s most important now is for a thorough investigation to bring answers, not only to give the family peace, but also to help medical staff learn and prevent future tragedies. Blame alone will not heal; understanding, accountability, and compassion from all sides will.The longest comment I ever made on this website. BTW you guys rock. Always a unique story nobody knows about. Good work,

  26. Legal action isnt going to bring her back. Be strong for the little baby she left behind. This will never be easy but taking action can make it worse.

  28. This is very sad & to be honest i find the rate of death for child birth in Antigua is low , in every country women die while giving birth or after it is very common. Pregnancy is life & death …..I feel sorry for the family but women tend to die just to bring life into this world & you sign a contract stating all the things that can go wrong while havind C section /vaginal delivery

  29. They need to investigate that place …y all of a sudden u can’t have a normal birth at the hospital , do they get pay more with every C section they do? Can someone tell me if the pacenta cost more when it is done by C section?………did the mother receive any form of vaxxines before giving birth? During the operations , are they taking blood from the persons while under operations? ……. i saw what my daughter went through and trust me something is up at that place.

  30. PEOPLE DON’T BE FOOLED BY THESE DOCTORS TALKING ABOUT SHE MIGHT HAVE DEVELOPED PNEUMONIA OR THEY WILL TEST HER FOR COVID19…..ARE WE THAT DUMB ??? SINCE WHEN PNEUMONIA KILL U WITHIN 3 MINS OR COVID 19. THIS IS WATH THEY DO AT THE HOSPITAL TO COVER DEATH , THEY CLAIM THE PERSONS HAVE COVID 19 SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO DO ANY AUTOPSIES. ASK THEM HOW MANY MOTHERS HAVE DIED FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS GIVING BIRTH AND COMPARE IT FROM 2019 GOING BACK AND U WILL GET YOUR ANSWERS. DOES THE COVID 19 VAXXINES GOT ANY PROBLEM TO DO WITH YOUNG LADIES DYING BECAUSE THE VAXCINE DAMAGES THE HEART MUSCLES ? WAKE UP MY PEOPLE.

  31. If the child has the same problem I guess they gave mom wrong medication witch the child got it to so they need to find out what they gave the mom

  32. I agree they really need to looking into the knock off medication they dispense not just at the hospital but also at medical benefits pharmacy.

    I was given knock off medication and it cause my illness to get worse.

  33. @Blessed.You seemed to have guessed right!!! If the baby has the same symptoms too,it HAS TO BE something they gave her while the child was still in her womb and the only thing i can think of that could cause a drop in oxygen level is an OVERDOSE of anesthesia.
    The anesthesia they use for C-sections is called Epidural anesthesia. An OVERDOSE of spinal or epidural anesthesia can be dangerous and, in rare cases, fatal if not recognized and treated quickly.
    Here’s why:If too much anesthetic spreads higher than intended, it can cause a high spinal or total spinal block. This may paralyze the breathing muscles and drop blood pressure severely, which can be life-threatening without emergency support.

    With Epidural anesthesia, Normally, the medication stays in the epidural space, but if too much is given or it accidentally enters a blood vessel or the spinal fluid, the anesthetic can reach toxic levels. This may cause seizures, irregular heartbeat, very low blood pressure, or cardiac arrest.
    @Sexy DA gal
    yes we are all human and are liable to make mistakes but unfortunately this does not seem to be a mistake .
    Here’s why:
    Based on the information in the newsletter they DECIDED TO INDUCE COMA. as a TREATMENT.
    An induced coma (using sedatives) would make the patient EVEN LESS ABLE TO BREATH on their own,and SLOW DOWN THE HEART even more.IT DOESN’T SOLVE the problem.IT MAKES it WORSE.

  35. Dear family don’t make ignorance get the best of you , you are grieving but all females know pregnancy if life or death at the age of 25 with 3 children your body needs time to heal , love yourself and think about your health so many things can go wrong take your time because nobody is more powerful than God 50/50 chances lost of blood high blood pressure ect

  36. This is soo sad . Condolences to all those who moan. I’m wondering if those who did the procedure are competent ? I had an experience last month that had me wondering about those entrusted with our care. If I can help I would not to go back to that hospital. If I could use one word , it would be incompetent . I know we can’t paint every one with a broad brush but it’s not looking good .

  37. This is an absolutely shocking case! My sincere condolences to her immediate family and friends.

    We Antiguans now have to admit, what we have always known (but stayed silent), that there’s a two-tier medical system running right here right now in Antigua.

    How many times have we heard that when either a politician or someone in high authority take sick, they rarely stay in the country for their treatment. And let’s also deal with the “who you now” elephant in the room, in regards to receiving the right care and attention if you do remain here for treatment.

    WE ALL KNOW IT HAPPENS IF YOU KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE. FACTS!

    Hopefully this tragic case will not only open the eyes of our medical practitioners and caregivers, but also open the hearts and minds of our very own politicians to end this ongoing – them and us – two-tier system.

    R.I.P 🙏🏾 Shenikica

  39. Oh my.
    My condolences to the family..this one hit hard.
    Sending my sympathies to the family. I can relate to this, because my son almost died in child birth, and if it wasn’t for the quick thinking doctors at his care, he wouldn’t be here today.

    And on the other note..this is why many mothers try to get to the US for child birth.

    Economic powerhouse my back-foot. Too many neglected areas of concern in this Administration.

    And here is the crazy part, it will continue to get worse under this foolish Administration.

  40. Perhaps more fully funded medical scholarships need to be made available every couple of years to the academically best and brightest young people who are interested in studying medicine. Medicine is expensive so only those with rich parents can afford to study it without help. Many brilliant poorer persons might have had the capability of strengthening the medical teams but did not have the opportunity to study right away and may have lost interest later. There will always be doctors leaving for private facilities or to work abroad or to move on to specializations so new doctors should be trained regularly.

  41. As someone who has experienced extensive medical care both in Antigua and the UK I feel it necessary to speak up. Firstly, I am deeply saddened for the family and friends of this young woman who lost her life under circumstances that none of us understand at this point. I send my prayers and love to all affected.

    I have been into LBMC/MSJMS on a number of occasions close to death and thankfully I been saved each time. Same goes for my family and friends. Sadly, the successes are not deemed news worthy and so we don’t hear about them. In the UK there is a nationwide review of maternal care due to the high numbers of deaths of mothers and babies across the country. So clearly, Antigua is not unique with hospital death rates. There has also been recent multiple convictions for a nurse who deliberately harmed babies many of whom died. My point here is that whether it is medical malpractice or that the young lady was overcome by a medical emergency, we do not know enough at this very early stage to pass judgement on the staff at the hospital. I agree that there should be a full and thorough inquiry into any deaths over the last 20 years so that lessons can be learned in the event of errors. Additionally, if it turns out there was no malpractice, perhaps this will help to bolster public confidence in our hospital and its staff. Whatever the situation, we need to focus more on the solutions to reduce the risks rather than pointing fingers when we don’t know all the facts. This is basic due process. Politicising a tragedy such as this is not helpful and is a pathetic and opportunistic way of scoring points at a time when someone has lost their life and a family has lost their mother, child, partner etc. Resolution will require cross party solutions as we all, (irrespective of our political persuasion) deserve the very best medical care every time we go to hospital.

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