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Midwife who drugged mums and put babies' lives at risk to make her job easier faces being struck off

A MIDWIFE who deliberately drugged 15 pregnant women in an apparent bid to make her work easier faces being struck off.

Kirsteen Stewart gave a labour-inducing drug to expectant mothers – putting some babies’ lives at risk as their heart-rates dropped to 50bpm.

Nursing watchdogs said the only plausible explanation was to speed up labour to “serve the midwife’s interests”.

Thirteen of the mums had to have emergency Caesarean sections after Stewart gave them Syntocinon, which causes the muscles in the uterus to contract.

It should only be prescribed by a doctor. Babies can be starved of oxygen if it causes the uterus to contract too hard. That can lead to brain injury, cerebral palsy or death.

No babies were killed by Stewart’s actions but two had to be resuscitated at birth.

Charlene Fordyce was told the birth of her daughter Kerryn was being probed Charlene Fordyce was told the birth of her daughter Kerryn was being probed

Stewart, of Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, was found guilty yesterday after a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing.

She was investigated by police in 2010 but no proceedings were brought.

However, a Crown Office spokesman said yesterday: “The Crown reserve the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.”

NMC case presenter Michael Collis told yesterday’s hearing: “The only logical explanation … is a desire to speed up the women’s time in labour in order to serve the registrant’s own interests.

“It undoubtedly represents a serious departure from the acceptable standards of a registered midwife.

“By behaving in such a way and apparently prioritising her own interests over the interests of her patients and their children, the registrant has breached one of the fundamental tenets of the profession, [which] has undoubtedly been brought into disrepute.”

The panel found Stewart guilty of administering the drug intravenously to 15 of the 20 mums in question.

Two were given the drug on the same day – November 23, 2009 – resulting in their babies experiencing a reduced heart rate.

One woman had to have a Category 1 C-section, where there is an immediate threat to life of the mother or baby.

The incidents took place at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

The cases took place between November 2007 and March 2010 at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.

Stewart, 48, was not present nor represented at the hearing, which lasted several weeks. She previously claimed the cases were “bad luck” .

The NMC admitted they had no direct evidence Stewart gave the mothers the drug. Their case depended on the “remarkable trend of women who experienced problems” after her involvement.

The panel said Stewart’s fitness to practice was impaired. They will decide her sanction today.

Panel chairwoman Anne Booth said: “The panel were satisfied that she performed a deliberate act which increased the risk of serious harm to mothers and their unborn babies, the consequences of which could have been life-threatening.”

Dr Jean Turner, a patron at the Scotland Patients Association, said NHS Grampian need to examine whether they should have spotted Ms Stewart’s actions sooner.

She added: “It would worry you sick that a member of the health profession would go out of their way to harm you. It’s a miracle that none of the babies were killed.”

Charlene Fordyce, of Lerwick, Shetland, told last year how she has been looking for answers since being told the birth of her daughter Kerryn, five, was being probed.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “Since the case has not yet concluded, we cannot comment.”

via : dailyrecord – Health