Investigative inquests were opened to determine the cause of death for two mothers, who both died from herpes. They are believed to have been infected with the same locum doctor who did their C-sections.
Kim Sampson was 29 years old, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32. They gave birth at East Kent NHS Trust Hospitals in 2018, weeks apart.
According to a BBC investigation, the surgeon who operated on the two women may be responsible for the infections.
Central and South East Kent Area coroner Katrina Hepburn launched inquests into the deaths of these people at Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, on Tuesday.
The court was informed that Ms Sampson (a Whitstable barber) gave birth to her baby by an emergency C-section after she suffered obstructed labor at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, on May 3, 2018.
Two days later she was released, and was readmitted to the hospital on May 10, following a referral by her doctor.
Following laparotomies, it was discovered that Ms Sampson suffered from acute kidney injury and failed. She died on May 22nd 2018 after suffering a heart attack at King’s College Hospital.
The cause of death was determined by a post-mortem as: 1A multiorgan failure, 1B pelvic candidiasis and disseminate herpes simplux infection, 1C third-trimester C-section, and 2 multiple laparotomies.
Samantha Mulcahy was treated at William Harvey Hospital Ashford for a Caesarean on June 26, 2018. After suffering cardiac arrest, the nursery nurse succumbed to obstetric complications. She also suffered from increased blood pressure and acute kidney injury.
Kim Sampson, a barber from Whitstable, gave birth by emergency C-section due to obstructed labour at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate on May 3, 2018. Following her readmission to hospital with severe kidney injury, she passed away 19 days later.
In the meantime, Mrs Mulcahy had a Caesarean performed at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital on June 26, 2018, just over one month after Ms Sampson’s passing.
Hawkinge’s nurse was 34 weeks pregnant at the time she gave birth.
Mrs Mulcahy was found to have suffered obstetric cholestasis, as well as an acute kidney injury and increased blood pressure.
Also, after she gave birth to her son, she developed breathing problems.
The results of an abdominal CT scan showed that the patient had an enlarged heart and blood clots. As a result, she was able to receive an ECMO-based life support.
However, while in the theatre, she experienced a heart attack and eventually died.
Ms. Hepburn stated to the court that her cause of death was 1A Multi Organ Failure, 1B Disseminate Herpes Simplex Infection and 1C Recent Third Trimester C-section Delivery.
According to the coroner, “The investigations were completed in 2018 and 2019, but they have been discontinued.”
“It is now known that Caesarean sections may have resulted in an infection.
‘At the time of the discontinuation, it wasn’t known when the herpes infection developed and new evidence now shows it may have been at the time of the procedure.
“This warrants further investigation. An inquest should be opened.”
These hearings were rescheduled for February 21, at the same court, in order to allow pre-inquest reviews.
BBC investigators discovered that both the viruses infected women were genetically identical.
On Tuesday, Archbishop’s, Maidstone (Kent), opened the Inquests into two of the mothers who died.
Peter Greenhouse, a sexual health consultant for more than 30 years, said the virus was likely to have entered the women’s abdomens during the C-sections.
Families were happy to hear that the investigation was underway.
Yvette Sampson, Kim’s mother, said: ‘We’ve wanted this since Kim died in 2018 – it’s been a long time coming.
‘We hope we are finally going to get answers to the questions we’ve always had – both for ourselves and for Kim’s children.’
Ryan Mulcahy was Samantha’s husband. He said that not knowing the outcome had made the pain worse.
Nicky, Nicky’s mother, said that she hopes the inquests will bring closure to families and provide greater insight into the circumstances of the deaths.
She added: ‘ How did Sam and Kim get the virus, and from where? You feel like you are stuck and you can’t move forward because you haven’t got the answers you should have had.’
Dr Rebecca Martin was the chief medical officer at East Kent Hospitals. She said, in November, that she had deepest condolences for Samantha’s family.
‘We will do everything possible to support these inquests and our thoughts are with Kimberley and Samantha’s families at this time.’