A verdict of medical misadventure has been delivered at the inquest into the death of a baby boy six days after his birth at the Midlands Regional Hospital at Mullingar.
Dublin City Coroner Brian Farrell said this was because the registrar, Dr Michael Osarere, admitted he would have acted differently if he had known the baby's heart rate had deteriorated after a failed forceps delivery.
The inquest heard the cause of death was neurological injuries caused by low oxygen (HIE).
Earlier the Dublin Coroner's Court heard that baby Kevin James Kelly had been transferred to Holles Street seven hours after his birth on 16 August at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar.
He was said to be in a poor condition with brain injuries.
James' mother Una Kelly said she was admitted to Mullingar hospital on 13 August, 2014 shortly before her due date for an induced labour because of pre-eclampsia.
By the evening of 16 August, she was in advanced labour but after one hour of pushing, her labour was not progressing.
Dr Osasere said he would attempt a forceps delivery. Ms Kelly said he made two to three vigorous attempts and one of his feet was placed on the bed at one point.
She then had an emergency Caesarean section and she said she saw her son born lifeless and limp and a very pale colour.
Baby Kevin was transferred to Holles St hospital and died on 22 August.
Counsel for family, Eugene Gleeson, suggested to Dr Osasere that several factors indicated that a forceps delivery was highly unlikely to succeed and no responsible obstetrician would have tried.
Mr Osasere said Ms Kelly did meet the medical requirements and the baby's heart rate was normal so he went ahead but he conceded that there was a reduced chance of success.
He did not agree that he had mistaken the position of the baby's head.
Mr Osasere also did not agree that marks on the middle of baby Kevin's head could have been caused by forceps.
He said he did not fumble with the forceps and he denied there were two separate applications of the forceps and that he put his foot on the bed at one stage of the application.
He also said he was not aware of a drop in the baby's heart rate indicated by the CTG after using the forceps.
Mr Osasere called for a Caesarean section at a slightly lower category. If he had known, it would have been a top priority delivery.
He did not know why there was a delay in getting Mrs Kelly to the operating theatre.
Mullingar Regional Hospital is currently carrying out a Systems Analysis Investigation of Ms Kelly's care by the risk manager however the report has not yet been finalised.
In a statement the hospital said "We cannot comment further until the process is complete. We have no further comment at this time."
