Doctor to stand trial for manslaughter over home birth death

A magistrate has ruled a medical practitioner will face trial for manslaughter after a mother-of-six died following her home birth in South East Queensland.

A Queensland medical practitioner will face trial after a mother-of-six died following her home birth.

Magistrate Robert Walker said on Thursday the evidence was sufficient to put Robyn Mary James on trial, after hearing from 13 witnesses in a two-day committal hearing.

Vicki Butler, 41, tragically died in hospital after complications following the birth of her sixth child.

Dr James, who faced a manslaughter charge over the death of Ipswich mother Vicki Butler, said “no, your honour” when she was asked if she wanted to say anything in response in Ipswich Magistrates Court.

The court heard that Dr James allegedly assisted Ms Butler’s home birth in a residence just a minute away from Ipswich Hospital on December 27, 2017.

Defence barrister Craig Eberhardt said his client was the one who rang the emergency number.

“We know that the ambulance was called at 6.43am, and it takes 13 seconds for the phone call to be picked up,” he said.

“How much earlier than 6.43am that would’ve been necessary for Dr James to call an ambulance to change the outcome?”

Dr Robyn Mary James arrives at Ipswich courthouse on Thursday. Picture: Grace Koo

Forensic Medicine Queensland officer Natalie MacCormick, who appeared as a witness, said there would more time to act and transport her to the hospital if the call was made earlier.

“I’m assuming that the call was made as she felt unconscious, which is sort of the description that’s been provided to me,” Dr MacCormick said.

“So that’s suggesting that’s probably when she was leaving circulation to her brain, and so as in the sort of situation that every minute counts.

“The earlier it was called, the better the likely outcome … Dr James would have the answer to that issue if she’s present.”

Forensic pathologist Dr Rebecca Williams, who did an autopsy just days after Ms Butler’s death, said it was a fair saying that the outcome could change if the ambulance was called earlier.

“Some women, if they’ve delivered their child and the placentas weren’t delivered, generally there will be ongoing bleeding and many of those women would need to go to an operating theatre, have an anaesthetic and an obstetrician needs to remove the remaining pieces of the tissue from the uterus,” she said.

“Otherwise it is expected that the person will have ongoing bleeding.”

A tribute to mum Vicki Butler, who died at her Ipswich home, just a block from hospital, after giving birth in 2017.

The court heard that Ms Butler allegedly died from post-partum haemorrhage following the delivery of her child.

Mr Walker said there was evidence to support the findings that Dr James was considered to have unlawfully killed Ms Butler and ruled that Dr James stand trial on the matter.

Dr James will remain on bail until her next court appearance.

Ms Butler’s mother Elaine said it was just part of the process when she was leaving the courthouse.

Dr James did not respond to any questions from reporters after the hearing.

When leaving the court with Dr James her barrister Mr Eberhardt appeared to clash with a Channel Nine cameraman.

Nine reporter Ebony Cavallaro responded by saying “that wasn’t very nice”, before Mr Eberhardt called the media “disgraceful”.