Hospital Failed to Perform Pregnancy Tests Leading to Tragic Deaths
A young woman and her unborn baby died after a hospital neglected to check if she was pregnant during four separate trips to the emergency department, an inquest has revealed. Zoe Tighe, aged 22, was unaware of her pregnancy and repeatedly attended James Paget Hospital in Lowestoft, Norfolk, over a six-week period, complaining of severe lower abdominal pain. Despite her symptoms, she was only treated for a urinary tract infection on each occasion.
Critical Oversight in Medical Care
Two weeks after her final hospital visit, Miss Tighe collapsed at her family home and was rushed to the hospital in a critically ill condition. Medical staff diagnosed her with sepsis, and a subsequent scan delivered the devastating news that she was 14 weeks pregnant, but the baby had already died. Following the birth, Miss Tighe suffered three cardiac arrests and tragically passed away on June 26, 2023.
The inquest in Norwich heard that Miss Tighe had a history of ketamine misuse, which began after the death of her father when she was 17. This misuse led to bladder fibrosis, commonly known as ketamine bladder, causing regular urinary tract infections. Her mother, Johanna Tighe, expressed deep concern that hospital staff "didn't look beyond her ketamine use" and were "not interested in investigating if anything else was wrong."
Missed Opportunities for Intervention
Miss Tighe visited the emergency department on April 24, May 22, June 2, and June 7, 2023, as confirmed at Norfolk Coroner's Court. Her mother highlighted that a consultant involved in the delivery could not comprehend why routine pregnancy tests were not conducted during any of these visits. "This would be standard with any young woman presenting at A&E with lower abdominal pain, even if they didn't think they were pregnant," the consultant stated.
Johanna Tighe believes that if her daughter had been informed of the pregnancy earlier, her attitude toward health maintenance and seeking support for the unborn child would have shifted dramatically. "Although Zoe had not planned to have a child at this time, she was a caring person who would have stepped up to meet the responsibilities of parenthood," she added.
Systemic Failures and Family Anguish
Following her collapse on June 24, Miss Tighe was transferred to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where the decision was made to withdraw treatment after she suffered multiple cardiac arrests. Her mother described her as having "everything to live for - a promising career, secure and loving home and a nice boyfriend." However, upon returning to Lowestoft four months prior to her death after a rehabilitation stint in Somerset, her physical health deteriorated significantly, leaving her in constant pain and occasionally wheelchair-bound.
Mrs Tighe recounted how her pleas for further investigation were ignored. "I asked for scans and begged for her to be admitted as she was in so much pain and so frail but I was frankly ignored," she told the inquest. A legal representative for the family emphasized that the absence of pregnancy testing may have altered the course of events, potentially contributing to her death.
Calls for Justice and Lessons Learned
The provisional cause of death was listed as sepsis due to E. coli, urinary tract infection, and missed miscarriage, with ketamine misuse as a contributing factor. The inquest, expected to conclude shortly, has sparked calls for accountability. Mrs Tighe expressed hope that "action will be taken to ensure justice is done for Zoe" and that "there are certainly lessons to be learned" from this tragic case to prevent similar incidents in the future.
