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Courts / Queensland

Inquest hears Qld mum felt 'dismissed' by doctors after asking for C-section

ABC News
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CourtsHealthPregnancy and Childbirth

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  • A coronial inquest is investigating the death of newborn Alby Spreadborough at Emerald Hospital in February 2023.
  • An inquest into the death of a newborn at a central Queensland hospital has heard his mother felt she was "dismissed" by doctors when she asked for a caesarean.
  • Today, the second coronial inquest into his death heard from his parents, Tim and Rebecca Spreadborough, and doctors.
  • Helping counsel Geoffrey Diehm asked Ms Spreadborough if the doctors may have been waiting to ensure she was sure she wanted to proceed with having a caesarean.
  • In February 2025, two years after Alby died, an initial central coroner's report found that the death was not preventable and was due to the formation of a Bandl's ring.

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  • “C-section” is named in the headline. We could not find it in the report.

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A coronial inquest is investigating the death of newborn Alby Spreadborough at Emerald Hospital in February 2023.

A doctor told the court the mother developed a "rare" medical condition restricting the baby from exiting the birth canal.

The inquest is expected to continue until Friday.

An inquest into the death of a newborn at a central Queensland hospital has heard his mother felt she was "dismissed" by doctors when she asked for a caesarean.

Alby Spreadborough died at Emerald Hospital on February 6, 2023, after an obstructed labour, a condition that occurs when the baby cannot move through the birth canal.

Today, the second coronial inquest into his death heard from his parents, Tim and Rebecca Spreadborough, and doctors.

The court heard that while in "excruciating pain" during labour, Ms Spreadborough asked her midwife, "Can they cut it out of me?", but was advised by her doctor to continue the vaginal birth for another hour.

Helping counsel Geoffrey Diehm asked Ms Spreadborough if the doctors may have been waiting to ensure she was sure she wanted to proceed with having a caesarean.

Rural generalist Brooke Davies told the inquest Ms Spreadborough had developed a medical phenomenon called a Bandl's ring, which is a ring of muscle that constricts between the upper and lower sections of the uterus.

In February 2025, two years after Alby died, an initial central coroner's report found that the death was not preventable and was due to the formation of a Bandl's ring.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 5.9 on the Niral Score.

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is ABC News's report shortened to its most important sentences, in plainer words, with verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

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Outlet Niral ScoreAdjectivesSourcingSentimentHappiness
ABC Newsas they published this story 9.1 8 72 -0.3 45
Mundane Readneutralized from ABC News 7.6 6 72 -0.3 45

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