The family of a baby who died during childbirth at Queensland's biggest hospital hopes an inquest into his death will shine a light on a lesser-known right to a second medical opinion.
Nixon Tonkin never breathed on his own, dying shortly after he was delivered at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on June 2014.
More QLD News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:18
Baby Nixon had fractured skull
Baby Nixon had fractured skull
An inquest is being held into the death of Nixon Tonkin at the RBWH in June, 2014 after he suffered a fractured skull during delivery. Nine News
Up Next
Chermside parking now ticketless
- Video duration
- 01:19
- Video duration
- 01:19
Chermside parking now ticketless
Chermside parking now ticketless
Westfield Chermside introduces ticketless parking as it prepares to open stage one of a $355 million upgrade. 7 News Queensland
Up Next
Esky saved fishermen's lives
- Video duration
- 01:31
- Video duration
- 01:31
Esky saved fishermen's lives
Esky saved fishermen's lives
A fisherman spotted an esky and alerted rescuers to a helicopter crash off Gladstone where two men survived despite suffering severe spinal injuries. 7 News Queensland
Up Next
Croc survivor's 'beautiful' date
- Video duration
- 02:57
- Video duration
- 02:57
Croc survivor's 'beautiful' date
Croc survivor's 'beautiful' date
An 18-year-old north Queensland man who survived a crocodile attack after drinking "ten cups of goon", has scored a movie date with the backpacker he was trying to impress. Nine News
Up Next
Road flooded near Garden City
- Video duration
- 00:18
- Video duration
- 00:18
Road flooded near Garden City
Road flooded near Garden City
Logan Road is flooded at Upper Mount Gravatt on Tuesday morning after a car hits a fire hydrant. Nine News
Up Next
Wellington blames Newman for Labor loyalty
- Video duration
- 02:19
- Video duration
- 02:19
Wellington blames Newman for Labor loyalty
Wellington blames Newman for Labor loyalty
Independent MP Peter Wellington sides with Labor, blaming Campbell Newman for refusing to allow the LNP to choose a new leader. Ten News: February 5, 2015
Up Next
Croc survivor jumped for love
- Video duration
- 01:41
- Video duration
- 01:41
Croc survivor jumped for love
Croc survivor jumped for love
An Innisfail man who leapt into the jaws of a crocodile says he did it to win the heart of a backpacker. Nova 96.9 Sydney
Baby Nixon had fractured skull
An inquest is being held into the death of Nixon Tonkin at the RBWH in June, 2014 after he suffered a fractured skull during delivery. Nine News
A pre-inquest hearing in December heard the skull was fractured during a caesarean birth as a midwife attempted to free the baby.
Little Nixon's family declined to speak ahead of the inquest's first day on Monday but lawyers issued a statement saying it had been a difficult time and the family was grateful for the inquest.
"We hope that the Inquest will reveal what could have been done to help prevent Nixon's death and make recommendations to prevent future tragedies of this sort," Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal Sarah Atkinson said in a statement on the Tonkins' behalf.
"The family would also like to take this opportunity to raise awareness about Ryan's Rule, which can be invoked to get help and a second opinion for a patient in hospital when the patient or their family are concerned that they are getting worse, not doing as well as expected or not improving."
The inquest will investigate what could have been done to prevent the deaths of Nixon and Archer Langley, who died at the RBWH a month after Nixon.
Archer suffered a rare condition that stopped him from clearing amniotic fluid from his lungs.
The December hearing into the two deaths heard doctors opted for a caesarean section to deliver Nixon after his mother, Simone, was diagnosed with obstructed labour, partly because of his large size.
An independent expert report found the midwife was not careless or negligent and her actions were an understandable response to an emergency.
The court heard although there had been cases, applying such upward pressure to the baby's head did not usually cause such catastrophic injuries.
Associate Professor Karin Lust, clinical director of obstetrics and gynaecology, women's and newborns services at the RBWH, said since 2014, the hospital had overhauled its maternity service through an obstetrics and gynaecology taskforce.Â
"This includes improving staffing levels by hiring additional consultants," she said.Â
"Additionally we have significantly transformed our service into a consultant-led team-based model where senior doctors and experienced midwives work hand-in-hand to deliver high quality medical care and support to women and their babies.
"These changes have resulted in greater medical and midwifery coverage and bolstered collaboration, communication, education and training within the service."
-Â With AAP