Guernsey woman says abortion booked 'without my permission'

Soozy Jenner said she felt poorly treated

A mother has spoken out about how she felt poorly treated by the Medical Specialist Group (MSG), prompting her to seek out a second opinion elsewhere.

Soozy Jenner's baby Grace was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition while in the womb.

Mrs Jenner, from Guernsey, said she was then booked in by doctors at the MSG for an abortion without her consent.

The MSG said: "No patient can be booked in for a procedure without their consent."

It added: "Without commenting on an individual case as that would breach the patient's confidentiality we can say in general terms that we would never and indeed could never book a patient for a procedure without consent."

The group said anyone with a concern should contact them.

'Completely shocked'

Mrs Jenner said she felt the attitude of the MSG clinicians changed after she told her doctor she would not have an abortion.

"I was completely shocked," she said.

"I couldn't believe someone would think it would be all right to have a termination because his view was that baby isn't going to live and he automatically assumed I would take a termination.

"I refused it and after that nobody got in touch with me. I had to seek out that second opinion."

'Brain stem damaged'

Mrs Jenner said after her child was diagnosed with an encephalocele she asked for a second medical opinion and was given one at Southampton Hospital.

"I was expecting an MRI scan, as an MRI scan could tell me what was wrong with my daughter," she said.

"I didn't get that and I wasn't happy with that."

She said at Southampton Hospital she was told the same as she was in Guernsey, that the "brain stem was damaged".

But, Mrs Jenner said: "You can't see without an MRI scan."

Mrs Jenner said she wanted the MRI scan so she could tell whether the baby was viable.

Back in Guernsey Mrs Jenner said she was told "the baby wasn't viable" but she still wanted to carry it to the end of the pregnancy as it had a strong heartbeat.

Grace died during labour.

"The way I was treated was lacking in any bedside manner," said Mrs Jenner.

"Ultimately, I wasn't given an MRI as I'd chosen to go against their wishes."

Historical cases

A number of local families have spoken out after saying they felt "traumatised" by local safeguarding services, after seeking a second medical opinion.

Some of those who have spoken out have called for an independent health complaints process.

Mrs Jenner has added her voice to calls for a new system.

Many of the families spoke out after comments from consultant paediatrician Dr Sandie Bohin about how the past year and a half "had been hell" after she was named in the States by former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier during a speech about concerns in the local health service.

Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee submitted a complaint about Deputy St Pier alleging he had abused parliamentary privilege by naming Dr Bohin in the States Assembly.

A panel of five deputies found by majority he did not abuse parliamentary privilege.

Last week in a debate about the findings of the privileges panel, Mr St Pier called for an independent inquiry into paediatrics in Guernsey, looking at historical cases.

Dr Matt Dorrian is calling on the States to offer reassurances to the medical profession in Guernsey

The Guernsey branch of the British Medical Association (BMA) said it was "disappointed" with the findings of the panel.

Dr Matt Dorrian, from the BMA, said the situation had undermined local doctors' faith in the States.

He said he was calling on the States to offer reassurances to the profession.

"It's extremely important any patients, and families of patients, have the ability to have complaints heard and have them investigated thoroughly, to make sure local clinical services are held to account," he said.

"I have absolute 100% faith that the BMA and local clinicians would uphold patients' rights to complain."

A spokesperson for Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) said: "The committee will be discussing and reflecting on all elements of the debate as soon as possible, to decide any further action needed."

Deputy Gavin St Pier said: "I'm deeply saddened to learn of this case... but, given the numbers that have approached me, I can't say I'm surprised.

"I strongly urge HSC to put out a call for the community to come forward with their current or historical experiences that they might have been unwilling to do before, for whatever reason."

He added: "HSC also needs to proceed with independent inspection by the Care Quality Commission or similar, with input on the terms of reference from those identified so far as having been impacted by poor behaviours, language or practice."

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