Carol Sunnucks: The joy of birth, the harm of medicine, the betrayal by the systems

Medical error and harm can take many forms and occurs in almost every medical context, except perhaps during autopsies.  So when a medical error occurs during a joyous event like childbirth, it can not only impact the immediate experience, but may also cause lifelong suffering and disability.

This is what happened to Carol Sunnucks when she went to the hospital to give birth to her son Kai. It was a hard labour and they had to use a suction device to pull Kai out -- but the doctor failed to check Carol for internal damage after that difficult procedure. This would prove to be catastrophic to Carol’s health and future. 

To make matters exponentially worse, the medical error and the damage it was causing was not detected for so long that any hope of Carol recovering her normal bodily functions is seemingly gone.  

Layered on top of that is the betrayal Carol subsequently experienced by both the health care and legal systems.  Carol and I talk about her experiences and what she’s doing to make meaning out of someone else’s failure to do their job.

Connect with Carol Sunnucks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.sunnucks.92

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaibaby28

Email: CarolSunnucks@hotmail.co.uk