Deaths of woman in childbirth and her baby referred to health watchdog

A coroner has referred the deaths of a woman in childbirth and her son in Palmerston North Hospital to the Health and Disability Commissioner.

Samantha Whyman, 29, died on 13 April 2024 at the hospital of a heart attack caused by chronic heart disease.

Her son Harrison Earnshaw died just 38 minutes after birth, on the same day, due to perinatal asphyxia - when a baby is deprived of oxygen before or during birth.

In a report released on Monday, Coroner Ian Telford found their deaths were not preventable.

However, he has referred Whyman and Harrison's deaths to the commissioner, "to assess whether services were provided safely and appropriately and in line with patients' rights and professional standards".

After their deaths, Health NZ carried out a serious adverse event report, which included recommendations to improve services. These were not detailed in Telford's report.

The coroner also obtained a report from an expert, who found that notwithstanding issues arising with Whyman's care she would have died anyway.

Whyman was 29 weeks' pregnant and on the day of her death had a cyst drained by her GP, before feeling unwell, with chest pains, fever and shivering.

She had a history of medical problems and may have previously had a silent heart attack, where there are no noticeable symptoms.

An ambulance rushed her to the hospital's emergency department, where tests were undertaken.

Her troponin level was raised, which indicates damage to the heart, but there was a delay in this information being communicated to clinicians in the emergency department.

As her care was being discussed, Whyman collapsed and could not be revived.

Harrison was born through an emergency C-section, but his condition was not survivable.

RNZ asked Health NZ what its serious adverse event investigation found and what improvements it made as a result.

"We acknowledge the tragic loss experienced by this family and recognise that their grief continues," said acting group director of operations for MidCentral, Katherine Fraser-Chapple.

"Because this matter has been referred to the Health and Disability Commissioner we have no further comment at this stage."