Hospital chief and doctor in court over emergency caesarean operation death
A SENIOR doctor and a hospital chief executive appeared in court today accused of causing the death of a woman as she gave birth by emergency caesarean section.
Dr Errol Cornish is charged with causing her death by negligence
Errol Cornish and Glenn Douglas confirmed their names and dates of birth at the hearing before Sevenoaks magistrates in Kent.
Consultant anaesthetist Cornish, 67, is accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Frances Cappuccini, 30, a primary school teacher, at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Douglas, 56, appeared as a representative of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which faces a corporate manslaughter charge over the tragedy.
Frances Cappuccini died giving birth to her son Giacomo, now two
Their co-defendant, Dr Nadeem Azeez, 52, failed to appear and an international arrest warrant has been issued following his return to his native Pakistan.
Mrs Cappuccini suffered a haemorrhage while giving birth to her second son, Giacomo, at the hospital in Pembury, Kent, in October 2012.
The youngster, now two, lives with his brother Luca, six, and father Tom.
Cornish, of Bromley, Kent, and Douglas, were bailed until May 22 after the case was committed to Maidstone Crown Court.