A tragic incident unfolded as a young woman, Zoe Tighe, and her unborn child lost their lives due to a failure by medical professionals to recognize her pregnancy during multiple hospital visits. Zoe, 22, visited the local A&E four times within a short period, complaining of lower abdominal pain without realizing she was pregnant. Despite her symptoms, doctors did not conduct a pregnancy test but treated her for a recurring urinary tract infection.
Following a collapse at home, Zoe was rushed back to the NHS James Paget Hospital where she was diagnosed with sepsis. It was only then that a scan revealed she was 14 weeks pregnant, but sadly, the baby had already succumbed to the infection. Zoe was transferred to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where she tragically passed away after suffering three cardiac arrests post giving birth to her miscarried baby.
During the inquest at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, concerns were raised about the missed opportunity to detect the pregnancy earlier, potentially altering the outcome. Zoe’s family representative emphasized the necessity of pregnancy testing during her visits to the James Paget Hospital, questioning if this could have prevented the tragic events that followed.
Zoe Tighe, residing in Lowestoft, Suffolk, had a history of health struggles related to ketamine misuse, leading to complications misdiagnosed as UTI issues during her frequent visits to the hospital. Her mother described Zoe’s battle with drug-related health problems, including bladder fibrosis, which ultimately affected her overall well-being.
Despite seeking help and undergoing rehab, Zoe’s pain persisted, leading to reliance on ketamine for temporary relief and subsequent relapses. The severe pain eventually left her wheelchair-bound and in a state of emotional distress, prompting multiple visits to the emergency department where her concerns were allegedly overlooked.
Zoe’s tragic collapse at home marked the beginning of a chain of events that ended in her passing at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Her mother highlighted the shock of discovering the pregnancy after her collapse, emphasizing the missed opportunities for proper medical care that could have potentially altered the outcome.
The inquest proceedings shed light on the necessity of early pregnancy detection and comprehensive medical care beyond surface-level assessments, underscoring the need for improved medical practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The medical cause of Zoe Tighe’s untimely demise was attributed to sepsis, UTI complications, a missed miscarriage, with ketamine misuse identified as a contributing factor.
The inquest is ongoing and is expected to conclude shortly, with hopes for justice and lessons learned from this heartbreaking incident.
