A young woman, Zoe Tighe, tragically passed away after being unaware of her pregnancy for 14 weeks despite seeking medical help four times due to lower abdominal pain. The cause of her death, along with her unborn baby, was sepsis. During her visits to the hospital, doctors did not conduct a pregnancy test but treated her for a urinary tract infection. Eventually, on her final hospital visit, she was diagnosed with sepsis, and a scan revealed she was 14 weeks pregnant with a deceased fetus.
An inquest revealed that Miss Tighe had been struggling with health issues related to ketamine misuse since the age of 17. Despite seeking medical assistance, her condition worsened, leading to severe complications. She had been to the hospital multiple times before being rushed to the emergency department and subsequently diagnosed with sepsis and a miscarriage.
Despite efforts to save her and her baby, Miss Tighe suffered multiple cardiac arrests and passed away the following day. The coroner ruled that the missed opportunities to detect her pregnancy did not directly cause her death as there were no infections in the birth canal or the fetus. The cause of death was determined to be septic shock from a UTI related to ketamine misuse.
The inquest highlighted the severity of Miss Tighe’s condition due to ketamine bladder syndrome and emphasized the importance of early pregnancy detection for timely intervention. Improved protocols have been implemented at the hospital to prevent similar incidents in the future. The coroner expressed condolences to Miss Tighe’s family and acknowledged the challenges she faced due to her health issues.