Mental health hell after abortion trauma at Brisbane hospital

A woman who suffered a horrific abortion experience was then released from a mental health facility while actively suicidal.

Steven Morris with his wife. Picture: Tara Croser

The first time Queensland’s health system failed her she was at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

It was to terminate a pregnancy at 19 weeks – but the baby was born alive and then shockingly left alone for seven minutes before dying without her parents to hold her.

The torture of that horrific experience catapulted the mother into a mental health hell.

Following that, the state’s flailing health system failed Steven Morris and his wife for a second time.

Immediately after the birth, Mr Morris’ wife, 34, who The Sunday Mail has chosen not to name, spent 10 months as a private mental health inpatient and has been in and out of hospital since.

But a stay at The Prince Charles Hospital mental health unit last month was the breaking point for the Brisbane couple.

Despite not having completed her treatment, and exhibiting signs of wanting to end her life, the woman was discharged – with serious repercussions.

Mr Morris said his wife’s brushes with Queensland Health had “broken her into pieces” and she was lucky to be alive.

“I was informed that she was being discharged despite not completing her full treatment program,” Mr Morris said.

“She was expressing both passive and active suicidality. I told the staff I was deeply concerned, but she was still sent home that afternoon.

“Within 70 hours, we were in a crisis.

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

“We were at an appointment at the GP’s and after the appointment my wife was throwing herself into oncoming traffic.

“She climbed a tree and fell out of it.

“When I tried to block her from the traffic, she began hitting me – she was so distressed.

“I wasn’t equipped to deal with such a situation. She became so distressed that she began hitting me, so I had to call the ambulance service and police to come to our aid.”

It was Christmas 2020 when the tragic sequence of events began.

When the couple found out that their unborn daughter had Down syndrome, they were referred to the RBWH’s maternal foetal medicine unit.

Mr Morris’ wife had health problems, including depression and an eating disorder.

“We sought out second opinions, carried out tests and ultrasounds and did everything to make sure we were making the right medical decision and, at 19 weeks, we decided on a medical termination,” he said.

However, baby Xanthe was born alive – but Mr Morris claims they were not told. He said they only found out via an offhand comment made by a staff member.

“We would have been with her when she passed, if we had known,” Mr Morris said.

“The procedure was already difficult, but this made it deeply devastating and traumatic. Why weren’t we informed?

“Then I was told that I would have to get a birth certificate and we wouldn’t be able to go with our original funeral plan to bury Xanthe’s ashes with other babies in the Royal Garden of Peace at the hospital.”

Xanthe is now in a family’ grave in a Brisbane cemetery.

Former health minister Yvette D’Ath

Then health minister Yvette D’Ath apologised for the couple’s experience at RBWH, with the case still being investigated by the Office of the Health Ombudsman.

Mr Morris’ wife is now too scared to go out in public unless to a previously designated safe place, as she gets is triggered by pregnant women and babies.

He said their experiences with the public health system had almost broken them and that they were in counselling.

“My wife could have died that day outside the GP’s,” he said.

“There have been so many cases in the news of people being released from mental health facilities and they end up hurting themselves or others. It’s horrifying.

“There needs to be more beds and community support for mental health patients.”

Mr Morris revealed that his wife was an inpatient at the RBWH mental health unit almost 15 years ago before they met. However, since then her health issues had been managed in the community.

Dr Kathryn Turner, executive director Metro North Mental Health, said managing mental health conditions could be challenging.

“We endeavour to provide the most appropriate care for each patient and work with patients and their families to ensure they get the support they need,” she said.

“Metro North Mental Health offers outpatient and community-based follow-up acute mental health services for patients discharging from hospital to support their ongoing recovery.

“Some patients may also choose to discharge into the care of a private healthcare provider.”

Originally published as Mental health hell after abortion trauma at Brisbane hospital