20/20's story on Charley Hooper, a severely disabled girl who was deprived of oxygen at birth, touched a nerve. Following are some viewers comments on the story and the issue of maternity care in New Zealand.
Simon - Tauranga
It would seem that more often all health sector workers seem to be
able to get away with any kind of misadventure, whether minor or
serious. In Charley's case, serious misconduct, the midwives get
off scott free. I am a registered electrician, and if I course any
harm to anyone with any work I carry out, I loose my registration,
face the electrical workers registration board, face possible fine
and or court sentence; worse if the incident actually causes
serious injury or fatal. I also have to fund all defence myself.
These health workers have the ability to hide behind an invisible
wall of all care no responsibility under the health industry of NZ.
ACC will not cover any care as no cause is found to be deliberate,
but accidental and no cause of the health workers.
I suggest this family, seeks funding and takes out a private
prosecution of these midwives and hold accountable for there
actions, just like the rest of workers in NZ, make them face
reality. Perhaps Liz Van Dan could sell her big flash car as seen
on the footage you showed and give the funds to this family.
Wishing Charley and her family all the best
Fiona - Christchurch
Oh My God, Oh My God, Oh My God, I am a single mum with a 10 yr old
and a 2 and half year old, and i am so touched, like never before,
over the baby charlie tragedy.
Who in their right mind, would ever want Van Damm, in charge of
their precious babies birth, and why the hell is she not being held
accountable, and have consequences of her negligence. Can you even
begin to imagine what it must be like to be Charley's parents, it
could easily have happened to either you or me.I don't have a lot
to offer, and I am not sure where Charley lives, but please please,
if you are able to pass on my contact details to her family, I
would consider it a pleasure to take her for a walk, or feed her a
meal, so the parents can have some time alone. I feel drawn to this
story, and little girl, like nothing ever before, and if its meant
to be, I will meet her, I feel so devastated by this tragedy.Love
and support to Charley and Family
Rhonda - Hawke's Bay
I would like to give my support to one of the midwives
involved in your story. I had all 3 of my children in Morrinsville
and was extremely lucky to have Hilary Hoover as my Lead Maternity
Carer. Hilary is the most wonderful midwife anybody could ever ask
for and I have no doubts in my mind in her ability, she is
extremely professional and is a fantastic person. If I were to have
another child I would request Hilary to be my LMC again and even
travel to Morrinsville from the Hawke's Bay just to be able to have
her. There is not enough words to say how wonderful I feel Hilary
is.
Marie - Wellington
I have recently returned from working overseas as a nurse and noted
on various trips home the number of botched deliveries by
midwives. I was gutted as I watched the tragic story on
20/20. Those midwives should be doing some respite care with
your daughter. I witnessed the midwife system first hand when
my daughter delivered my grandson. I needed to be quite
assertive when it came to leaving for the hospital and also about
the need to do a caesarian when she wasn't progressing. I
feel blessed now with a perfect baby boy but there but for the
grace of god go I. Some appear to be acting as Gods, reign in
their autonomy they are abusing it with fatal consequences
Carla
This epidemic is a symptom of the society we have created for
ourselves. Training isn't about learning and being good enough to
pass anymore, it's about passing everyone who bothers to enrol.
It's not just in midwifery or nursing, it's in every profession in
our society. Just to demonstrate, they don't even have "fail"
anymore when you sit unit standards.. you have "not yet competent"
which basically means- we don't actually care whether you can do it
or not, if you are keen enough, we will give you a pass even if
you're really bad at it. This is what happens when society becomes
to afraid to say "you're not good enough" This is the society
that the politically correct have created for us, these are the
consequences of making everyone feel good about themselves- is it
really good enough? I bet Charlie's parents don't think so.
Racheal
First i would like to send my deepest apologises of what the Hooper
family had to go through after the birth. This story got me in
tears looking at that beautiful girl being helpless. I know how
Jenn and Mark are feeling. Those midwifes must of not been so sorry
if they couldn't face up to Jenn and Mark and the Hooper family.
Those so called midwifes should never forget that day, not calling
for assistants until an hour after baby Charlie was born, what do
you call that? I believe those midwifes shall not be carrying on
with their jobs. It's only in a short nick of time more beautiful
babies will be hit with this less fortunate life. I hope those
midwifes get what's coming to them. For Jenn, Mark and the Hooper
family, my thoughts and care goes out to your beautiful baby girl
Charlie and also your family through the years ahead.
Kia Kaha be strong and never let go of hope.
Angela - Glen Eden
I just want to say how hurt and broken I felt after watching this
story of such a beautiful baby who has to suffer for the rest of
her life because of the actions of pathetic losers who call
themselves Midwives. I think the other mothers should know about
these two ladies and walk away from their service because they say
this kinda thing happens. What the hell? If these Midwives made
mistakes and knew something terrible was wrong and didn't know what
to do, why the hell did they wait for so long before calling for
help. They took it upon themselves to be God and use this baby for
their experiment not thinking about the consequences while her
mother was bleeding, and then to have the nerve to walk away and
say sorry but yeah that's all we could do. Yes I know that we are
not perfect and, yes we do make mistakes but shucks isn't it their
job to ensure baby is delivered safely and to prevent harm to
newborn babies far out their were two of them - no excuses. Mate
they could have owned up and faced the public and the family that
have ruin especially baby Charley, but no they didn't give a stuff
and practically just threw salt into their wounds by firstly
avoiding Charley's mother, then the media and not coming forward to
speak openly about how truly sorry they are. This shows they are
not sincere and don't seem to care, come on - did they think
sending a letter was going to compensate for their stupid actions
and make this poor family believe they are sorry for stuffing up.
Of course not. all they keep doing is trying to justify their
actions taking no ownership of what happen, this makes me so hurt
and twisted inside, this just shows how disgusting our system can
get by defending low life like this. I want justice for this family
I am heartbroken and tears will never stop flowing for beautiful
Charley. I pray that God will take care of her from here on, I am
so full of hurt and anger about this I want to fight the good fight
and get justice for Charley and her family. All our love and
prayers for Charley.
Cherie - Auckland
My heart went out to Jenn and Mark Hooper and their wee girl
Charlie. This is one of many tragedies that are affecting New
Zealand women and their unborn children. I know of many cases where
not only the baby life has been in danger but women themselves in
harms way of today's Midwives. The college of Midwives are a joke.
In the 16 1/2 years of being a parent to four children; the oldest
being 16 1/2 and the youngest 11 months old the drastic and
devastating care of midwifery is below par, where not only the
lives of our precious newborns are at risk but also their mothers
as well. Urgent action needs to be done and even to say sack the
current administration and tutors of the college of midwives. If
this was America we would have the right to sue for malpractice
instead we are left with a maternity care that is below that of 3rd
world countries.
R Fraser- Wellington
I watched your story of Charley Hooper. My heart and thoughts go
out to her parents & family. It seems that the maternity system
has let this family down, more spot light needs to be put on this
issue an have stronger rulings on misconduct of this kind. As the
Health and disability commissioner found they had breached some
policies. A one day training course every year and a sad pathetic
apology, as the outcome? Come on Health & disability
commissioner!. There should be more tightly followed procedures
around these types of births and tougher consequences for mid-wives
involved in these types of cases.
Antoinette
I am writing in response to your story about the tragic birth
events that surrounded Charley. I recognise that when a trauma
befalls a family we search for culpability, that is simply human
nature to want to know why, and who is to blame. Charley's family
will be forced to grieve for the life she will never have every
time she reaches a milestone, and still have to care for the part
of Charlie that is still with them. Some would argue that it is
more challenging to cope with than a complete death. However I feel
moved to come to the defence of the midwife (Sue) as she was my LMC
last year.
Acting as my LMC is not a simple task, I suffer from epilepsy and asthma. Furthermore I have also undertaken one and a half years of midwifery training myself, making me acutely aware of the standard of care I should expect to receive. It was the birth of my first child so I had no idea if the stress of pregnancy and labour would trigger seizures or an asthma attack. An additional complication arose when at 36 weeks I contracted chickenpox, more severe in adults and the fever can cause seizures, however through an active dialogue Sue allayed any concerns I had. When labour came it progressed faster than I had anticipated preventing the journey from Morrinsville to Hamilton where I had hoped to deliver. Instead I chose to deliver my daughter in Morrinsville. It was a beautiful water birth, on arrival we discovered the cord wrapped twice around baby's neck, which Sue informed me of and swiftly rectified without fuss or panic. Sue provided exemplary care, she was warm, friendly, caring, and professional.
I understand that she was found to be in breach of some standards of practice, I believe that her further training has filled any absences in her abilities. I know her first apology letter was found to be lacking of depth, I think however that nothing she could have said would have alleviated the suffering and grief felt by Charlie's family. I further propose that no resuscitation of a neonate is routine. Routine is when a baby is delivered and needs no intervention by medical professionals. Midwives receive training on how to deal with emergencies, but they are skills that are not drawn upon regularly. Midwives are an excellent means of care for normal situations, of course these were unforseen circumstances with a dreadful outcome, and I am sure all involved wish for a much different outcome. I again offer my condolences to the family, it is not my intent to diminish their grief.
I simply wish to add another perspective on the practice of Sue Van Dam. I will be eternally grateful to her for assisting me in the delivery of my daughter, who is healthy and growing up far too quickly as all children do. I do not wish for Sue to be the subject of a witch hunt, nor do I believe that maternity care would be better provided by GPs in normal situations.
