Nationwide — A jury in Fulton County, Georgia, has awarded $2.25 million to the grieving dad and mom of a child who was decapitated throughout childbirth—and whose post-mortem was later shared on-line with out their permission. The dad and mom, Treveon Taylor and Jessica Ross, obtained $2 million in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages from Dr. Jackson Gates, the Atlanta pathologist who posted disturbing footage of their child’s post-mortem on social media. Gates and his firm, Medical Diagnostic Decisions, had been sued for invasion of privateness, fraud, and infliction of emotional misery.
NBC Information experiences that the tragic incident occurred on July 10, 2023, when the couple’s child, Isaiah, died throughout supply at Southern Regional Medical Middle. Two days later, Ross employed Gates to carry out a personal post-mortem for $2,500. In line with the lawsuit, Gates was by no means granted permission—verbally or in writing—to share any pictures or movies from the post-mortem. Regardless of this, he allegedly posted a number of graphic movies to Instagram exhibiting the severed head and physique of the toddler. His account, which had a historical past of sharing post-mortem footage, has since been eliminated, although he nonetheless operates a YouTube channel.
Household attorneys referred to as Gates’ actions a betrayal, saying, “After the decapitation of their child, Gates poured salt into the couple’s already deep wounds.” In a earlier interview with NBC Information, Gates defended his actions by citing a HIPAA exception that permits physicians to publicly disclose details about security considerations in healthcare. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years,” Gates stated. “I’ve not violated HIPAA.”
Along with their lawsuit in opposition to Gates, Ross and Taylor are additionally suing Southern Regional Medical Middle and obstetrician Dr. Tracey St. Julian. They allege that extreme pressure throughout a protracted vaginal supply, regardless of Ross requesting a C-section, led to the infant’s decapitation. In line with courtroom paperwork, St. Julian used excessive traction throughout supply makes an attempt, ensuing within the toddler struggling cranium fractures and cervical spinal accidents. An emergency C-section was in the end carried out, however solely after the infant had died.
The hospital has denied wrongdoing, claiming the toddler had already died in utero earlier than the supply and decapitation occurred. Nonetheless, a February 2024 ruling by the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Workplace declared the loss of life a murder, citing cervical backbone fractures attributable to the actions of one other individual.
Neither Dr. St. Julian’s authorized crew nor the Southern Regional Medical Middle has responded to current requests for remark.
