Rare event killed mother, son

PRAYERS and tears from grieving family and friends were part of an emotional Masterton Coroner's Court inquest yesterday into the deaths last year of a Masterton mother and her newborn baby.
Coroner Jock Kershaw found that Leeanne Aroha Rimene, 37, died in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit on April 20, 2006, from an amniotic fluid embolism in the first stage of labour which led to massive haemorrhage and cardiac collapse.
Her son, four-day-old Te Reo Kaha Rimene-Clark, died in the unit two days later on April 22, from severe birth asphyxia caused when Ms Rimene suffered the embolism.
In his findings, Mr Kershaw said it was a rare medical event and from the moment Ms Rimene suffered her embolism, her baby's life was "irreversibly compromised".
He said there was no blame nor criticism attached to any medical staff involved.
Regrettably, he said, there was a perception among people that if they were sick they could go to hospital and there they would get better.
"That is not the reality. People die despite the best care and attention from dedicated staff."
Seventeen members of Ms Rimene's whanau, including her parents, her partner Geoff Clark and her sister Roimata, were at the hearing which opened and closed with a prayer.
Also attending were Wairarapa Hospital representatives, Masterton Detective Sergeant Bill Van Woerkom, Detective Constable Shane Brown, of Tararua CIB, and GP and midwife Dr Hilary Ryan, Ms Rimene's primary caregiver.
Mr Brown, at the time working for Masterton CIB, told the court that in January 2006, Ms Rimene was pregnant with her third child, the second for her and Mr Clark.
Mr Brown said on Friday, April 7, she visited Dr Ryan who arranged for her to see an obstetrician on Wednesday, April 12, at the specialist antenatal clinic at the hospital and, as a result of that appointment, Ms Rimene was scheduled for an induction of labour on Tuesday evening, April 18.
On Thursday, April 13, she was at the hospital's maternity annex having contractions but when they stopped she returned home for the Easter Weekend.
Ms Rimene and Mr Clark duly arrived at the maternity annex on April 18 for the planned induction and that evening she went into labour.
Attended by a nurse overnight, she progressed well through into early the next morning and by 6.30am labour was well-established.
At 7.30am Dr Ryan called in to check on her and again at 8.10am.
Mr Brown said at about 7.50am, the night nurse had handed over care of Ms Rimene to the day nurse who was joined by another about half an hour later.
Mr Clark was also there at this time supporting his partner.
Labour was progressing well and Ms Rimene was talking to people in the room, but at about 8.20am while she was changing her position on the bed, she collapsed.
Mr Brown said it was apparent to the two nurses and Dr Ryan that Ms Rimene was unconscious and experiencing some type of seizure.
Two specialist obstetricians were paged, both assessed her condition and she was taken to theatre for an emergency caesarean, and 25 minutes after the seizure's onset, the baby was delivered.
The condition of both mother and child was critical and later that day they were flown to Wellington Hospital where they subsequently died.
Lawyer Grant Allan, appearing for Ms Rimene's whanau, told the court that in less that 24 hours "a remarkable young woman, very loved, with great insight and strength of character" had died.
Mr Allan said she gave so much to others and had so much more to give and her death was a tragedy for both her family and the wider community.
Because the family were so devastated and had so many questions, Mr Clark and, Roimata Rimene, began their own inquiry, with the knowledge of police and the coroner, into what had happened.
He said the family had conducted themselves with great dignity and carefully worked through everything, and had never set out to attack anyone or apportion blame.
They wanted answers and sought information from an international specialist, who wished to remain anonymous, but whose independent inquiry had confirmed that Ms Rimene's death was the result of a rare and unpredictable medical event ? sudden, dramatic and usually fatal.
Their inquiry also confirmed Dr Ryan was blameless ? she was a very good, competent doctor and had managed the pregnancy in a professional and capable manner, providing good medical care for Ms Rimene and doing everything she could do for her.
Mr Allan said the review also found there was nothing done by any doctor, nurse or midwife which contributed to the deaths and nothing the hospital could have done which would have made any difference to the outcome.
Ms Rimene's partner spoke briefly to the court and said there was no sadder tragedy than to lose a happy and healthy mother, and while everyone knew how special she was "we just miss her so much".
Mr Clark said "people have told us to move on but we can't do that at the moment, but we were so blessed to have her for the amount of time that we did".
Roimata Rimene said it had been a "long, long, road, and trying to cope with the loss of my sister has been unbearable but we are getting there".
"We miss her deeply in everything we do and trying to make sense of this has been so hard, but our extended whanau have been our strength."