The inquest into the death of a toddler has now concluded nearly 3 years following her death. Alta Fixsler died on 18 October 2021 after the High Court ruled that her mechanical ventilation had to be turned off. The Fixsler family instructed Sarah Finney of Watson Woodhouse Solicitors and Mr David Pojur Counsel of Lincoln Chambers to represent the family in the inquest proceedings.
On 23 December 2018, Alta was born via an emergency c-section after her mother, Chaya Fixsler suffered from a significant placental abruption. Baby Alta was born without a heartbeat and whilst resuscitation attempts were successful, she suffered from a severe hypoxic brain injury.
Devastatingly for the family, medical professionals of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust attributed the cause of Baby Alta’s brain injury to a 4-minute delay in Mrs Fixsler agreeing to the c-section. Mrs Fixsler then went into theatre at 10:41 am and Baby Alta was born at 10:54 am.
These allegations are strongly refuted by the family and in evidence before the Coroner, they stated that they did not refuse or decline the emergency c-section but that they “made enquiries about the procedure and whether it had to proceed under general anaesthesia”. Since then, the family have raised significant concerns about the Trust around ‘informed consent’ as they were not provided with sufficient education around risk and emergency situations.
HM Assistant Coroner, Mr Golombeck, stated it was “understandable such enquiries were made” and that “it is unlikely they would have necessary had the clinicians at the time been unequivocal as to the emergency nature of the procedure.”
Allegations made by Trust Professionals were “wrong medically and legally”
During the inquest into her death, Coroner Mr Golombeck, sitting at Manchester City Coroner’s Court and, Counsel for the family asked Dr Vause (Chaya’s consultant) whether she had unrealistic expectations of expectant mothers to know what best to do in an emergency situation. Mr Golombeck, said claims by medical professionals that Alta’s brain injury was caused by a delay in Chaya agreeing to the c-section under general anaesthetic were “wrong medically and legally” stating:
“It is even more regrettable that Dr Vause then appeared to double-down on this opinion in her oral evidence without due regard for the personal, familial and cultural considerations that the Fixsler’s understandably had”
“To be clear, there was no delay in the sense that Dr Vause refers to, nor did any gap in time contribute to Alta’s profound hypoxia. This is wrong medically and legally, and not something I would expect from a clinician of Dr Vause’s seniority.”
A family’s fight for Alta’s life
The family of Alta, who are part of the Salford’s Hasidic Jewish community, could not accept the Trust’s position that Alta’s mechanical ventilation should be turned off. The matter attracted international concern with medical professionals in both Israel and the United States offering medical care to Baby Alta. However, following a lengthy Court battle, the High Court ruled that it was in Alta’s best interests for her life support to be turned off.
At the conclusion of the inquest, Mr Golombeck handed down a ‘narrative conclusion’ which confirmed that Alta died as a result of a “combination of natural causes and the withdrawal of necessary mechanical ventilation”.
Acknowledging the proceedings that have gone on before, the coroner stated that this did “not take away from the care and love she received from both parties throughout.”
The family have acted with integrity whilst carrying the heavy weight of these allegations for many years and have finally been vindicated by the Coroner who stated that the Trust’s allegations were “regrettable”.
Prevention of Future Deaths
Considering whether to issue a ‘Prevention of Future Deaths’ report, the Coroner directed the Trust to provide evidence including policies and procedures now in placed with particular regard to informed consent. This information was provided to the family and the Court shortly before the hearing on 1 October 2024, and the Coroner has therefore deferred his judgement to a later date.
In the Media
Alta Fixsler: Parents raise care concerns over toddler’s death – BBC News
Alta Fixsler: No failures in care before toddler’s death – inquest – BBC News