Inquest into death of baby delivered by father (From Western Telegraph)

Inquest into death of baby delivered by father

A NEWBORN baby, whose father acted as midwife at his birth, died aged three weeks, an inquest has been told.

Assisting at the birth, Michael Robert Duffill administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and delayed for a significant period of time taking the newborn to hospital.

Detective Constable Lynda Elias told the inquest that baby Robert Duffill died at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff on Tuesday, April 30th, 2002, after being transferred from Withybush Hospital.

Parents Michael Robert Duffill, aged 40, and 28-year-old Marlene Duffill, of Robins Cottage, Rhosllyn, Penparc, were arrested and jointly charged with wilful neglect of their newborn son.

In July of that year, Mrs Duffill went missing, and after a four-day search was found dead in a field near her home.

Four months later an inquest into her death recorded a verdict of suicide.

At Swansea Crown Court in August 2003, Michael Duffill pleaded guilty to a charge of causing cruelty to his son on the basis of neglect.

The judge imposed a community rehabilitation order (probation).

Michael Duffill said his wife gave birth before the arrival of the midwife, but pressed by Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton he could not give an explanation as to why he did not wait for proper medical attention.

The inquest was told that the cause of death was a lung condition caused by pertussis. Summing up, the coroner said: "This is quite clearly a very sad case," and he recorded a verdict of 'want of attention at birth'.