Beautician Dies; Doctors Missed Unborn Baby on Four Hospital Visits

A devastating tragedy unfolded for a 22-year-old beautician, Zoe Tighe, and her unborn child, culminating in their deaths after multiple hospital visits. Over six weeks, Ms. Tighe sought medical attention four times at the James Paget Hospital for abdominal pain, yet was repeatedly treated for urinary tract infections without a pregnancy test being administered.

Her condition worsened, leading to a collapse at home on June 24, 2023. Rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with sepsis, and a scan revealed she was 14 weeks pregnant, though the baby had already died due to the infection. Ms. Tighe was transferred to another hospital where she later died following cardiac arrests shortly after giving birth to her miscarried baby.

An inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court is now investigating whether the failure to perform pregnancy tests on her visits contributed to the tragic outcome. Ms. Tighe's mother expressed her belief that her daughter was not looked at beyond her history of ketamine misuse, and that a routine pregnancy test, standard practice for young women with her symptoms, was overlooked.

Ms. Tighe's provisional cause of death was recorded as sepsis, e-coli, and a urinary tract infection, with ketamine misuse as a contributing factor. The inquest continues to explore the critical questions surrounding her care and the potential for saving both lives.