Latest news with #midwifery
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Midwife who told pregnant shop keeper that wearing a facemask during the height of the pandemic would harm her unborn baby is struck off
An award-winning midwife has been struck off the register after she urged pregnant women to avoid COVID vaccinations and face masks during the height of the pandemic. Northern Ireland NHS worker Seana Kerr told a pregnant shopworker not to wear a mask in August 2020 in case it harmed her unborn child. Ms Kerr, who had been a registered midwife since 2007, approached the 27-week pregnant woman and said that a face covering would 'reduce the amount of oxygen her baby was receiving'. She had introduced herself as a midwife and further suggested to the mother-to-be that she should consider rejecting the offer of a flu vaccination in case it increased the risk of her baby being stillborn. The pregnant woman, known only as Patient A, said she was left 'highly distressed' by the incident because it was her first pregnancy and she 'wanted to ensure she was doing the best for her child'. A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal suspended Ms Kerr for 12 months last year, and said she placed the woman at 'significant risk of harm' and 'risked seriously undermining the public confidence' in her profession at a crucial time. The panel also took issue with the midwife's social media posts throughout that period. Ms Kerr, who won Northern Ireland 's Excellence in Midwifery award in 2018 and was nominated for a further award in 2020, said that babies were being attacked in the womb through vaccination of mothers during pregnancy. Ms Kerr's statements on Facebook were also investigated Nursing and Midwifery Council She also claimed in March 2021 that healthcare professionals were being 'complicit' in the national response to Covid-19, and that the health crisis was 'a Trojan horse intend[ed] to introduce a new era for humanity'. A further post in December saw her make reference to how a group of people, described as 'they', had been 'planting the seeds' about Covid-19 over Christmas 2020 by referring to 'some bat in China'. Ms Kerr's social media comments were posted when she had identified herself as a midwife and was 'promoting her opinion on matters of clinical importance', the panel found. Ms Kerr last year said she 'did not deny any of it' and 'cannot regret a word I said', adding: 'I stood on principle, for what I believed in. And I still believe that this matters.' 'The panel considered that the actions of Ms Kerr took place during an exceptionally unusual time, where the entirety of the NHS was mobilised to protect the public from the international Covid-19 pandemic,' they said. 'Therefore, by expressing the view that other healthcare professionals, who Ms Kerr was working with in the Trust, were acting in ways which may cause harm, a view Ms Kerr held which was against the recognised guidance at the time, Ms Kerr risked seriously undermining the public confidence in the profession. 'It further noted that by making these accusations that Ms Kerr's colleagues may have suffered harm while working in an unprecedented and challenging situation.' The panel found the pregnant woman and her family were caused 'significant emotional harm' as a result of Ms Kerr's behaviour. 'The panel noted that it is a reasonable expectation of everyone working in a public environment, such as a shop, that they will not be approached and given personal, clinical advice and that such advice would normally only be given during a private clinical appointment or at an antenatal class,' they said. 'Therefore, by approaching Patient A in her place of work, outside a clinical relationship, unsolicited, Ms Kerr placed her at significant risk of harm.' The panel found Ms Kerr's fitness to practise was still impaired and that there was a risk of her repeating the behaviour. Ms Kerr did not show any remorse for her misconduct or demonstrate any insight into her previous actions, and had not engaged with the NMC since June 2022, the panel said. It made an order to strike Ms Kerr's name from the register, after a 12-month suspension order had previously been imposed last year.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Midwife struck off over claim vaccines ‘attacked babies in the womb'
A midwife has been removed from the register after she shared posts on social media claiming that vaccinations harm babies in the womb. Seana Mary Kerr, from Newry in Northern Ireland, also told a pregnant woman in a shop that she should not be wearing a face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal panel. Ms Kerr, who had been a registered midwife since 2007, was found by a panel to have placed the woman at 'significant risk of harm' with her views, while she had 'risked seriously undermining the public confidence' in her profession at a crucial time with her posts. In the first of three social media posts in September 2020, Ms Kerr said that babies were being attacked in the womb through vaccination of mothers during pregnancy. Then, in March 2021, she claimed healthcare professionals were being 'complicit' in the national response to Covid-19, and that the health crisis was 'a Trojan horse intend[ed] to introduce a new era for humanity'. A further post in December that year made reference to how a group of people, described as 'they', had been 'planting the seeds' about Covid-19 over Christmas 2020 by referring to 'some bat in China'. Ms Kerr's advice and social media comments were given when she had identified herself as a midwife and was 'promoting her opinion on matters of clinical importance', the panel found. 'The panel considered that the actions of Ms Kerr took place during an exceptionally unusual time, where the entirety of the NHS was mobilised to protect the public from the international Covid-19 pandemic,' they said. 'Therefore, by expressing the view that other healthcare professionals, who Ms Kerr was working with in the Trust, were acting in ways which may cause harm, a view Ms Kerr held which was against the recognised guidance at the time, Ms Kerr risked seriously undermining the public confidence in the profession. 'It further noted that by making these accusations that Ms Kerr's colleagues may have suffered harm while working in an unprecedented and challenging situation.' The midwife approached the pregnant woman in the shop, which was her place of work, during the other allegation in question in August 2020. She identified herself as a midwife before advising the woman that she should not be wearing the face mask as it reduced the amount of oxygen her baby was receiving. Ms Kerr went on to tell the woman that she should not receive a flu vaccination as this would increase the risk of her baby being stillborn. The panel found the pregnant woman and her family were caused 'significant emotional harm' as a result of Ms Kerr's behaviour. 'The panel noted that it is a reasonable expectation of everyone working in a public environment, such as a shop, that they will not be approached and given personal, clinical advice and that such advice would normally only be given during a private clinical appointment or at an antenatal class,' they said. 'Therefore, by approaching Patient A in her place of work, outside a clinical relationship, unsolicited, Ms Kerr placed her at significant risk of harm.' The panel found Ms Kerr's fitness to practise was still impaired and that there was a risk of the individual repeating her behaviour. Ms Kerr did not show any remorse for her misconduct or demonstrate any insight into her previous actions, and had not engaged with the NMC since June 2022, the panel said. It made an order to strike Ms Kerr's name from the register, after a 12-month suspension order had previously been imposed last year.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Midwife struck off after claiming vaccines ‘attacked babies' on social media
A midwife has been struck off the register after posting claims on social media that vaccinations attacked babies while in their mother's womb during pregnancy. Seana Mary Kerr, of Newry, Northern Ireland, also told a pregnant woman in a shop that she should not be wearing a face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal panel judgment. Ms Kerr, who had been a registered midwife since 2007, was found by a panel to have placed the woman at 'significant risk of harm' with her views, while she had 'risked seriously undermining the public confidence' in her profession at a crucial time with her posts. In the first of three social media posts in September 2020, Ms Kerr said that babies were being attacked in the womb through vaccination of mothers during pregnancy. Then, in March 2021, she claimed healthcare professionals were being 'complicit' in the national response to Covid-19, and that the health crisis was 'a Trojan horse intend[ed] to introduce a new era for humanity'. A further post in December that year made reference to how a group of people, described as 'they', had been 'planting the seeds' about Covid-19 over Christmas 2020 by referring to 'some bat in China'. Ms Kerr's advice and social media comments were given when she had identified herself as a midwife and was 'promoting her opinion on matters of clinical importance', the panel found. 'The panel considered that the actions of Ms Kerr took place during an exceptionally unusual time, where the entirety of the NHS was mobilised to protect the public from the international Covid-19 pandemic,' they said. 'Therefore, by expressing the view that other healthcare professionals, who Ms Kerr was working with in the Trust, were acting in ways which may cause harm, a view Ms Kerr held which was against the recognised guidance at the time, Ms Kerr risked seriously undermining the public confidence in the profession. 'It further noted that by making these accusations that Ms Kerr's colleagues may have suffered harm while working in an unprecedented and challenging situation.' The midwife approached the pregnant woman in the shop, which was her place of work, during the other allegation in question in August 2020. She identified herself as a midwife before advising the woman that she should not be wearing the face mask as it reduced the amount of oxygen her baby was receiving. Ms Kerr went on to tell the woman that she should not receive a flu vaccination as this would increase the risk of her baby being stillborn. The panel found the pregnant woman and her family were caused 'significant emotional harm' as a result of Ms Kerr's behaviour. 'The panel noted that it is a reasonable expectation of everyone working in a public environment, such as a shop, that they will not be approached and given personal, clinical advice and that such advice would normally only be given during a private clinical appointment or at an antenatal class,' they said. 'Therefore, by approaching Patient A in her place of work, outside a clinical relationship, unsolicited, Ms Kerr placed her at significant risk of harm.' The panel found Ms Kerr's fitness to practise was still impaired and that there was a risk of the individual repeating her behaviour. Ms Kerr did not show any remorse for her misconduct or demonstrate any insight into her previous actions, and had not engaged with the NMC since June 2022, the panel said. It made an order to strike Ms Kerr's name from the register, after a 12-month suspension order had previously been imposed last year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Midwife struck off after claiming vaccines ‘attacked babies' on social media
A midwife has been struck off the register after posting claims on social media that vaccinations attacked babies while in their mother's womb during pregnancy. Seana Mary Kerr, of Newry, Northern Ireland, also told a pregnant woman in a shop that she should not be wearing a face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal panel judgment. Ms Kerr, who had been a registered midwife since 2007, was found by a panel to have placed the woman at 'significant risk of harm' with her views, while she had 'risked seriously undermining the public confidence' in her profession at a crucial time with her posts. In the first of three social media posts in September 2020, Ms Kerr said that babies were being attacked in the womb through vaccination of mothers during pregnancy. Then, in March 2021, she claimed healthcare professionals were being 'complicit' in the national response to Covid-19, and that the health crisis was 'a Trojan horse intend[ed] to introduce a new era for humanity'. A further post in December that year made reference to how a group of people, described as 'they', had been 'planting the seeds' about Covid-19 over Christmas 2020 by referring to 'some bat in China'. Ms Kerr's advice and social media comments were given when she had identified herself as a midwife and was 'promoting her opinion on matters of clinical importance', the panel found. 'The panel considered that the actions of Ms Kerr took place during an exceptionally unusual time, where the entirety of the NHS was mobilised to protect the public from the international Covid-19 pandemic,' they said. 'Therefore, by expressing the view that other healthcare professionals, who Ms Kerr was working with in the Trust, were acting in ways which may cause harm, a view Ms Kerr held which was against the recognised guidance at the time, Ms Kerr risked seriously undermining the public confidence in the profession. 'It further noted that by making these accusations that Ms Kerr's colleagues may have suffered harm while working in an unprecedented and challenging situation.' The midwife approached the pregnant woman in the shop, which was her place of work, during the other allegation in question in August 2020. She identified herself as a midwife before advising the woman that she should not be wearing the face mask as it reduced the amount of oxygen her baby was receiving. Ms Kerr went on to tell the woman that she should not receive a flu vaccination as this would increase the risk of her baby being stillborn. The panel found the pregnant woman and her family were caused 'significant emotional harm' as a result of Ms Kerr's behaviour. 'The panel noted that it is a reasonable expectation of everyone working in a public environment, such as a shop, that they will not be approached and given personal, clinical advice and that such advice would normally only be given during a private clinical appointment or at an antenatal class,' they said. 'Therefore, by approaching Patient A in her place of work, outside a clinical relationship, unsolicited, Ms Kerr placed her at significant risk of harm.' The panel found Ms Kerr's fitness to practise was still impaired and that there was a risk of the individual repeating her behaviour. Ms Kerr did not show any remorse for her misconduct or demonstrate any insight into her previous actions, and had not engaged with the NMC since June 2022, the panel said. It made an order to strike Ms Kerr's name from the register, after a 12-month suspension order had previously been imposed last year.
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
B.C. ‘childbirth activist' loses bid to remove investigator from midwifery case
A British Columbia woman who is under investigation by police and the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives for her alleged role in the birth and death of a newborn child, has lost her bid to have the college's lead investigator removed from the case. Gloria Lemay, who was arrested and charged with manslaughter earlier this year, had petitioned the B.C. Supreme Court to remove JT Michaelis Beck, the college's lead investigator and lawyer, from the legal proceedings after Lemay accused Beck of seizing a box containing privileged communications between Lemay and her lawyer from her home during a search last year. Lemay, who was 77 years old at the time of her arrest in January, had already been the subject of repeated investigations by the college, which is the body that certifies and regulates midwives in B.C. By law, only those who are registered with the college are allowed to practise midwifery or call themselves midwives in the province. Lemay, who has described herself as a 'childbirth activist,' has never been registered as a midwife, according to the agency. In February 2000, the college obtained a permanent injunction barring Lemay from performing midwife services. Two years later, she was found in criminal contempt of court for breaching the injunction and was sentenced to five months in jail. Death of a newborn That seemed to resolve the matter for more than two decades, until Jan. 6, 2024, when a newborn baby died in hospital following a home birth in the Vancouver Island community of Ladysmith. The incident triggered separate investigations by the RCMP and the regulator, with each agency obtaining a separate authorization to search Lemay's home and property later that month. Mounties entered Lemay's home first on Jan. 30 of last year, escorting her outside while Beck, serving as the regulator's legal counsel, helped the police identify equipment, medication and documents related to midwifery, according to court documents. Less than three hours later, the police search concluded and Beck re-entered the home alongside private investigators employed by Paladin Risk Solutions, who were hired by the college to help with its investigation. Together, Beck and the investigators searched and seized items on behalf of the college, including the box of documents at the heart of Lemay's legal challenge. In an affidavit before the court, Beck described the box as containing 'news clippings and 'public‑facing' mementoes from Ms. Lemay's prior legal proceedings,' saying the investigator believed the box 'may have client charts and medical records.' Nearing the end of the search, Beck, who uses they/them pronouns, became concerned they would miss their ferry reservation back to the mainland, so the lawyer removed the entire box from the home so it could be thoroughly searched later, the court heard. The box was returned to Lemay two months later, with only a single document – a letter from someone named 'Allison' – having been scanned and retained for the investigation, the college attested. 'Sloppy investigative work' Lemay applied for a stay of proceedings in the case, alleging her Charter rights protecting her from unnecessary search and seizure had been breached because Beck 'had obtained confidential information' related to communications between Lemay and her lawyer, according to court documents. While the request for a stay was denied by Justice Bruce Elwood, Lemay also sought an order to prevent Beck from continuing on as the college's legal counsel in order to maintain Lemay's right to private legal advice. The judge acknowledged that the college came to possess the privileged communications 'through inadvertence and sloppy investigative work,' adding that a 'more careful review' of the box would have alerted Beck to the risk that it contained privileged documents. 'Rushing to catch a ferry is not an excuse for failing to conduct a proper review of the documents in Ms. Lemay's home before Mx. Beck seized the entire box,' Elwood wrote in his decision. 'Beck ought to have taken the time to remove only the relevant non-privileged documents or else to have segregated the file folders containing potentially privileged documents,' he added. 'Best practice would have been to have an independent solicitor as part of the search team to conduct an initial review of any potentially privileged documents on site.' Judge finds 'no prejudice' Despite the investigative errors, the judge concluded there was no evidence that the college or its lawyer did anything with the privileged documents, nor did they 'read any documents for their content,' he wrote, dismissing the motion to remove Beck from the proceedings. 'In my view, there is no prejudice to Ms. Lemay's right to a fair hearing or to the integrity of the justice system that will be manifested, perpetuated, or aggravated through allowing these proceedings to continue,' Elwood concluded. In 1985, Lemay and another woman were charged with criminal negligence causing death after a boy they were attempting to deliver in a Vancouver home died while still in the birth canal. The pair were convicted in B.C. Supreme Court the following year, but the conviction was later overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled the fetus must be removed from its mother's body alive to be considered a person.
