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Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Parents of baby decapitated during birth horrified as graphic photos published
Jessica Ross and Treveon Taylor Sr. filed a lawsuit against a pathologist who posted footage of their son's decapitated body on Instagram, and the couple has now been awarded millions The parents of a baby who was decapitated during childbirth have been awarded $2.25million after a doctor posted graphic footage of their son's autopsy on social media. Jessica Ross was due to give birth to her first child on July 10, 2023, but the baby got stuck behind her pelvic bone after being in labour for hours. Ms Ross and her partner Treveon Taylor Sr. did not get to see their son (whom they named Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr) and doctors and nurses did not tell them the child's head had been severed during efforts to deliver him, according to court documents. The couple then hired a pathologist to carry out an autopsy - but he posted a graphic video of the child's body online. Ms Ross hired pathologist Dr. Jackson Gates after a funeral home told the couple about the condition of his body. Gates posted a video of the child's dead body on his Instagram showing "graphic and grisly detail of postmortem examination" and his "decapitated, severed head", according to the couple's lawyers. The pathologist deleted this video but posted two more of the autopsy just a few days later and all of these videos were uploaded without the couple's consent, according to their complaint. A lawyer for the couple, Cory Lynch, told Fox 5 Atlanta: "For him to post these images and videos without permission was insane to us. "And especially with the nature of the posts... of the grisly details of the autopsy examination and also pictures of the child's head. It was baffling that he would do something like that." Ms Ross and Mr Taylor filed a lawsuit in September 2023 against Dr. Gates and Gates Rapid Diagnostic Laboratory of Atlanta. Dr. Gates did not respond to the lawsuit so this left the State Court in Fulton County, Georgia, to decide. Dr. Gates' lawyer Ira Livnat, who was hired after the court's decision, claimed this meant the case ended in favour of the couple, saying: "The plaintiffs got the absolute best case." The jury, on Wednesday, awarded Ms Ross and Mr Taylor $2.25million (£1.6million). The couple's attorney in a statement said: "While we are pleased that a jury punished Dr. Jackson Gates for his reprehensible behavior, nothing can ease the pain that the parents, Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., have experienced in losing their baby boy in such a horrific way." "After the decapitation of their baby, Gates poured salt into the couple's already deep wounds when he betrayed them. "This young couple trusted him with the remains of their precious baby. Gates, in turn, repaid this trust by posting horrific images of their child for the world to see." Dr. Gates' attorney said he "deeply, deeply regrets any harm" but in a Facebook post, that has since been deleted, the pathologist called the outcome "a complete miscarriage of justice" adding that he intended to file an appeal. Gates said he still pots autopsies on social media, according to Atlanta News First.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Geography helps shield Brazil from US-style bird flu epidemic, for now
FILE PHOTO: A person wearing a hazmat suit stands next to burning egg cartons and other items in a hole in the ground at a poultry farm after Brazil confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu in Montenegro, Brazil on May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Chickens sit at a poultry farm as Brazil's egg exports soar amid stronger U.S. demand, in Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo FILE PHOTO: An excavator moves earth next to a hole in the ground at a poultry farm after Brazil confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu on Friday, triggering protocols for a country-wide trade ban from top buyer China and state-wide restrictions for other major consumers, in Montenegro, Brazil May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo FILE PHOTO: An employee dilutes poultry serum samples for ELISA test for the detection of antibodies to the avian influenza virus at the Reference Laboratory of the World Organization for Animal Health in Campinas, Brazil April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo SAO PAULO - Brazil's vast and diverse geography, with the Amazon to the north, mountain ranges along the Atlantic coast and the Andes to its west, may have helped it avoid the U.S. fate of widespread bird flu among commercial poultry flocks by keeping migratory birds away from farms in the country's interior. Wednesday marks more than a month without a new bird flu case on a commercial poultry farm in Brazil, ending an observation period after its first such outbreak. The success brings hope to farmers that there will be no repeat of the persistent infections in the U.S., where the virus devastated the domestic egg industry and triggered lasting trade bans. There are doubts, however, whether the landscape can offer long-term protection. Bird flu has spread around the world, even reaching Antarctica for the first time in 2024, in a threat to poultry flocks, wild birds and mammals, including U.S. dairy cows. In Brazil, the Andes may delay the entrance of virulent new strains for two or three years, said Alex Jahn, researcher at Oregon State University's department of integrative biology. But Brazil will remain at risk for outbreaks as wild bird populations now infected with the virus circulate more widely. South American birds can migrate in all directions depending on rainfall, Jahn said, unlike the north-south seasonal migration over the United States. Those migratory flyways over the U.S. appear to be major vectors for contagion between wild birds and commercial poultry, said John Clifford, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's former chief veterinary officer. "If you look at the wild waterfowl patterns, that's probably the key," said Clifford. "We have four flyways coming in through the U.S." By contrast, the Amazon basin acts as a natural filter keeping wild birds away from Brazilian poultry, said Guillermo Zavala, a U.S.-based avian health consultant who has worked in the poultry industry for more than 30 years. The wild birds spreading the virus tend to spend time in nesting areas north of the equator, he said. Masaio Ishizuka, a senior epidemiologist at the Sao Paulo University, said evidence suggests migratory birds have now infected local Brazilian species, making the bird flu virus endemic in the world's largest chicken exporter, which accounts for 39% of global trade. Last month, Brazil's first outbreak on a commercial farm led to the culling of about 17,000 breeding chickens, producing birds raised for meat. Since then, meatpackers BRF and JBS culled at least 141,000 healthy chickens preemptively. Brazil has detected 174 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, since 2023, mostly in waterfowl along the coast, according to government data. The United States has confirmed the virus in about 10 times as many commercial and backyard flocks since 2022, the USDA said. About 175 million U.S. chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled. China has blocked poultry products from Brazil and most U.S. states due to outbreaks, and other nations also restricted shipments. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico enforce statewide restrictions that only apply to poultry from Rio Grande do Sul, where the one commercial outbreak occurred. Japan and United Arab Emirates are among nations with even narrower import bans, restricting only poultry products from the town of Montenegro. SECURITY MEASURES Brazil's first commercial outbreak hit a chicken breeding farm, where biosecurity rules are supposed to be stricter than on facilities where chickens are raised for meat, said Felipe Sousa, assistant professor at Sao Paulo University's school of agriculture. Security measures at breeding facilities require workers to shower before going in and use clean uniforms and shoes provided by employers. Brazilian farmers are also required to put up fences 5 meters (16.4 feet) away from chicken houses and one-inch mesh screening, commonly known as chicken wire, both around the walls and the property to keep stray or wild animals away from flocks, Sousa said. Many U.S. farms have similar precautions, except for the fencing and screening rules, said Ashley Peterson, a senior vice president at the U.S. National Chicken Council. U.S. chicken flocks are tested for bird flu before being slaughtered as part of a monitoring program, she added. Brazilian meat lobby ABPA and the government did not comment on pre-slaughter protocols. Clifford, who works with a U.S. poultry export association, said he expects more commercial outbreaks in Brazil with the virus present in wild waterfowl. "If they only have one, I would have a lot of curiosity about their surveillance program," he said. "They would be darn lucky." Officials recently confirmed backyard and wild species outbreaks in the center of Brazil, showing the virus is traveling inland. In response, Marcelo Mota, Brazil's chief veterinary officer, said the country will enforce new biosecurity guidance for zoos, parks and conservation sites. "We will be busy," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Conduct mock drills to test readiness of oxygen plants: State issues fresh guidelines to all health officials
1 2 Pune: The state health commissioner on Monday issued fresh guidelines to health officials in all civic bodies, district health offices and Zilla Parishad offices, directing them to conduct mock drills of all the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants that were operational during the Covid-19 pandemic. State govt has also asked these bodies to reserve beds in case of any surge in respiratory infections while ensuring that all Covid-positive samples are sent for genome sequencing. The circular issued by the commissioner states that there has been a slow but steady rise in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) across the country. Most of the cases are mild and the current SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in circulation is the JN 1, XFG and LF 7.9. Common symptoms include fever, cough and itching in the throat. As of Monday, Maharashtra has 506 active patients; most of them are in Mumbai. There have been 10 fatalities in the state during the current surge since mid-May. Although these cases are mild, as a measure of precaution, health officials have to take a stock update on the availability of the number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sets, medical oxygen as well as isolation, ICU and ventilator beds. "A mock drill must be conducted of the PSA oxygen plants to check for oxygen preparedness," said the directive. Further, it has been instructed that about 5% of all influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) patients' samples must be sent for testing and all positive samples must be sent to the regional Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) for genome sequencing. The district surveillance units have been told to keep a close watch on the SARI and ILI trends in their areas. In view of the above guidelines, Dr Nagnath Yempalle, civil surgeon, Pune district, said, "We have conducted a mock drill of all our oxygen plants. While most are in working condition, some will need repairs, especially those in the periphery, where oxygen plants are not in regular use. We will get those repaired as well. We already have a 100-bed Covid hospital that was set up during the pandemic, which we can use to admit patients in need. We have already cleaned the hospital." Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health chief Dr Nina Borade commented, "We have conducted the mock drills of some of our oxygen plants, and most are in working condition. We will inspect the remaining ones on Tuesday, and a final report will be prepared. If any of the plants need repairs, then we will conduct the same. Many of these plants have not been in use for a long time and might need some maintenance. We have also reserved 50 beds at Naidu hospital for Covid-19 patients. " Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) medical officer Dr Laxman Gophane was unavailable for a comment despite repeated attempts by TOI to contact him.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
One more tests positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh; tally rises to three
'A 51-year-old man has tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the total number of infections in the current wave to three in the State,' a senior health official said on Saturday (May 31, 2025.) 'The man had undergone a rapid antigen test at Ramakrishna Mission Hospital (RKMH) in Itanagar on May 28 and was found positive for the coronavirus infection,' he said. 'Arunachal Pradesh had earlier reported two cases of the new COVID-19 variant on May 27,' State Surveillance Officer Dr. Lobsang Jampa said. 'These cases were detected through RT-PCR tests at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS),' he said. A 34-year-old woman, who is in her 21st week of pregnancy, tested positive after she had developed COVID-like symptoms of fever and mild cough. The woman had arrived in Itanagar from Bengaluru on May 13. The woman's 53-year-old mother also tested positive for the infection but remained asymptomatic. Anti-dam protests spread in Arunachal Pradesh; villagers point to potential submergence of sacred Mishmi tribal cultural 'The pregnant woman is currently admitted to a hospital, while her mother has been placed under isolation,' the official said. Mr. Jampa urged the public not to panic, assuring that the new strain appears to be less severe than earlier variants. 'The Health Department is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. We are also tracing all possible contacts the two women may have had,' he added. He noted that a comprehensive public health advisory will be issued soon after consultation with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi. 'So far, the State Health Department has tested four samples, of which three have been found positive,' the official added.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
AUT And Abbott Team Up To Tackle Concussions & Women's Health
New Zealand's leading sports research institute, based at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), has embarked on a multi-year collaboration with global healthcare technology company Abbott. This joint effort has potential to transform how sports injuries are treated in the future, especially for female athletes. Under the collaboration, Abbott has installed the ARCHITECT® ci 4100 analyser, one of its Core Laboratory platforms, in AUT's SPRINZ biochemistry lab at AUT Millennium, a hub for many of New Zealand's high-performance sports organisations and Olympic athletes. A Legacy of Innovation AUT Professor of Human Performance Patria Hume, who played a key role in establishing the collaboration, describes the initiative as the start of a legacy, not just a research programme. 'The Abbott Core Laboratory platform will enable us to build a comprehensive database of women's health metrics, fostering long-term studies that will benefit future generations,' says Professor Hume. 'This is a collaborative effort, bringing together experts from various fields to tackle some of the most pressing health issues faced by women today. The technology will push the boundaries of what's possible in sports science and medical research.' The installation of Abbott's diagnostics platform marks a revolutionary step in advancing brain and women's health research. The system allows for precise blood tests that were previously out of reach, enabling researchers to identify critical biomarkers for neurological and hormonal health. 'With this technology, we can uncover insights that will lead to early detection, better treatment options, and personalised care plans tailored to the unique needs of each woman,' says Professor Hume. Addressing Concussion Challenges in Female Athletes Research increasingly shows that female athletes face a higher risk of concussion and respond to brain trauma differently than males. Yet current diagnostic and treatment practices often fail to account for these differences. 'It's time we adopt approaches that address the unique challenges concussions pose to women,' says Beth McQuiston, M.D., Medical Director in Abbott's diagnostics business. 'Having worked in this field for years, I'm truly excited to see how new technologies, like Abbott's Core Laboratory instruments, are helping us make groundbreaking strides in this area. By screening for blood biomarkers released after a brain injury, we can quickly and accurately determine if a CT scan is necessary. This not only improves patient triage but also reduces unnecessary radiation exposure – it's a win for both patients and healthcare providers.' AUT Professor of Psychology and Brain Health Alice Theadom, who also directs the TBI Network (Traumatic Brain Injury Network), highlights the significance of the partnership for advancing brain health research. 'There is exciting emerging evidence on the use of blood and hormone levels to detect physiological changes caused by brain injury,' says Professor Theadom. 'The availability of this instrument will position New Zealand at the forefront of new discoveries, revolutionising how we detect and treat these injuries. This collaborative programme brings together clinicians, community groups, and academics to drive clinically important discoveries in women's brain health.' The AUT-Abbott partnership goes beyond concussion research. The team will also explore how vitamins (such as Vitamin D and B12) and neuroendocrine changes impact brain health – a first-of-its-kind initiative that has never been done before. This holistic approach will provide unprecedented insights into the factors influencing brain health and recovery.
