Expert Calls For Lessons To Be Learnt

A leading medical negligence expert from Irwin Mitchell has called for lessons to be learnt after a number of errors during a birth left a baby both brain-damaged and blind in one eye.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised over the delivery of Xavier Cutillo, when the misuse of forceps during his delivery at Scunthorpe General Hospital left the child with a fractured skull and an eyeball detached from its socket.

The infant’s parents, Emma Portogallo and Daniel Cutillo, now face a wait of years to discover what impact the damage may have had on their son.

Beth Reay of Irwin Mitchell, who specialises in cases of failings in the medical sector, said: “This case is a prime example of why we continue to call for the NHS to reduce the number of avoidable errors which occur in hospitals

“Sadly, it appears that this young child will have to cope with the mistakes made during his birth for the rest of his life.

“Such a case is similar to many I have dealt with in which serious failings are highlighted and important lessons must be learned to prevent the same mistakes being repeated in future.”