Death of baby decapitated during birth at Georgia hospital is ruled a HOMICIDE as DA's office now po
The death of a baby who was decapitated during childbirth at a Georgia hospital has been ruled a homicide.
On Tuesday, the Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office said Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr's death was caused by the 'actions of another person', but added it would be up to the District Attorney whether to pursue formal charges.
The baby suffered 'fracture dislocation with complete transection (to the) upper cervical spine and spinal cord', according to an autopsy report obtained by Atlanta New First.
His death was caused by shoulder dystocia, arrest of labor and fetal entrapment in the birth canal. Pregnancy-induced diabetes and premature rupture of membranes also contributed, per the report.
While no medical professional have been criminally charged, the baby's parents are pursuing lawsuits against Southern Regional Medical Center, as well as ob-gyn Dr. Tracey St. Julian and pathologist Dr. Jackson Gates.
The death of Jessica Ross' and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr.'s baby, Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr., who was decapitated during birth, has been ruled a homicide by Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office
While criminal charges are yet to be filed, the parents filed civil lawsuits against Dr. Tracey St. Julian (left) who they accuse of delaying a C-section procedure and failing to seek help quickly and Dr. Jackson Gates, who they allege posted graphic pictures of their baby's autopsy online
Their nightmare began on July 9 when mom Jessica Ross, 20, arrived at the Riverdale hospital with her partner Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr. to give birth.
Ross began experiencing complications when her baby boy's shoulders got stuck during a vaginal delivery which began 8.40pm, according to the suit.
Dr. St. Julian is accused of delaying a C-section procedure and failing to seek help quickly. Instead, she applied 'ridiculously excessive force' on the baby's head and neck to try to deliver it while Ross was still awake, claims attorney and physician Roderick Edmond.
The baby's body and legs were delivered by C-section three-and-a-half hours later at 12.11am, and his head was delivered vaginally.
When Ross and Taylor demanded to see and hold their child, they claim the baby was tightly wrapped in a blanket with his head 'propped on top of his body' to make it appear like it was still attached. They ultimately found out about the decapitation from the funeral home, they claim.
The lawsuit claims Dr. St. Julian did not tell Ross and her family about the decapitation when she spoke to them around 5 a.m. on July 10.
The grieving couple has accused the hospital of trying to cover up what happened by discouraging them from getting an autopsy and encouraging them to have their son cremated.
They claim the situation only came to light after a whistleblower at the Willie A Watkins funeral home became concerned at the state of the body.
Ross and Taylor Sr. claim Southern Regional Medical Center tried to to cover up what happened by discouraging them from getting an autopsy and encouraging them to have their son cremated
The couple's nightmare began when their baby boy's shoulders got stuck during a delivery which began 8.40pm, according to the suit. Dr. St. Julian is accused of applying 'ridiculously excessive force' on the baby's head and neck to try to deliver it while Ross was still awake
The couple are also suing independent pathologist Dr. Jackson Gates who they claim posted graphic images of the infant's autopsy.
The suit accuses Gates of taking $2,500 for the autopsy before posting identifying videos and photos on Instagram where he often shares his work for public health purposes.
The couple say they awoke on July 14 to see Gates had recorded videos of the baby’s autopsy and then posted them on his public account for the world to see.
The suit claims: 'This video showed in graphic and grisly detail a postmortem examination of the decapitated, severed head of Baby Isaiah.'
It further alleges that after the clip was removed, Gates posted two more videos of the baby’s autopsy exactly a week later - ones that graphically depicted the baby’s head, body, brain, and even organs.
Southern Regional said in statements at the time it could not discuss treatment for particular patients due to privacy laws, but it denies the allegations against it.
Its 'heartfelt thoughts and prayers' were with Ross and Taylor and their care providers, it said.
'Our commitment is to provide compassionate, quality care to every single patient, and this loss is heartbreaking,' the hospital said.
It later added that St. Julian was not an employee of the hospital, and it had 'taken the appropriate steps in response to this unfortunate situation.'
On Tuesday a spokeswoman said the hospital could not comment 'due to ongoing litigation.
DailyMail.com has contacted St Julian and Gates for comment.
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