Cops drop probe into death of British Mad Men star Jamie King’s tragic baby who died after delayed caesarean
The force says it will not take action after claims evidence may have been tampered with
POLICE have said they will not take action against the hospital where Mad Men actor Jamie King's baby died after a bungled labour.
The star and wife Tamara Podemski's son Benjamin died days after the emergency operation at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, Somerset, when it's thought he was starved of oxygen, an inquest heard.
The Tudors star said police were probing claims evidence may have been tampered with after a delayed caesarean section led to Benjamin's death after an inquest was held in January.
The 39-year-old Canadian actress was classified as having a high-risk pregnancy and was two weeks overdue when she was scheduled to undergo a c-section in May last year.
Staff at the hospital decided to delay the op until the following morning and allowed Podemski to go home when an emergency case was given priority.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "Following a referral from the coroner in this case, we have reviewed the matter.
"At this time, there is insufficient evidence to refer this matter to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration.
"We have communicated our findings to the coroner."
Podemski, then living in Froome, Somerset, rushed back to the hospital after she had a prolonged contraction - lasting for up to 18 minutes - at 5am.
Benjamin was born in a "poor condition" following the emergency operation at 6.55am.
He was resuscitated but died at St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, five days later.
An inquest into his death was adjourned after allegations that Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust altered statements for the hearing.
Avon Coroner's Court heard investigations into the matter were continuing, with senior coroner Maria Voisin and Benjamin's family being informed of any findings.
Speaking outside the inquest in January, Jamie said: "We came to this inquest hoping the hospital would acknowledge the mistakes they made that led to our son's death.
"Rather than hearing the truth we've had to listen to misremembered stories, altered accounts, deflection, and diversion.
"Left with so many unresolved issues and unanswered questions we feel compelled to appeal directly to expectant parents in the hope that this does not happen to them.
"At two weeks overdue, we were rushed into hospital in an ambulance following a deceleration in our baby's heart rate.
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"We were scheduled for a c-section to happen later that day, but shockingly that evening without giving us any clear reasons they bumped our procedure to the following morning.
"They ignored our objections and they sent us home. We believed them when they said it was safe to go home.
"It's now very clear that we should never have been sent home that night. If you are concern about your health or your baby's health you must stand your ground and tell them that you want to see a consultant, do not leave.
"Most importantly you must not allow them to dismiss you like they have dismissed us.
"We will continue our fight for justice for or Benjamin, and we will make sure his story is told.
"We have been informed by the coroner that the matter of the altered witness statements has been reported to the police, and we hope that there will be a thorough investigation."
Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict, and said the decision to delay delivery and send his mum home resulted in Benjamin "being born in a poor condition and his subsequent death".
Voisin said she would write to the hospital trust in her capacity as coroner to prevent future deaths, and said the inquest "raised concerns about written notes, specifically the written evidence in statement form provided by the RUH".
She added: "I would say I remain very concerned about this very serious matter and I have been advised by the trust that they are and have been investigating this matter and will continue to investigate this matter.
"Both myself and the family will be advised of the outcome."
The inquest in Bristol previously heard Tamara's pregnancy was 'high risk' because she had undergone a c-section during the birth of her last child and was overdue.
She was rushed to the RUH after a community nurse spotted an abnormality on a scan.
Doctors told her they could not perform a caesarean for six hours because she had been given a hospital meal which needed to be digested.
An hour before the planned op on May 4 another case was given priority and Tamara and Jamie were told she would have the op first thing in the morning at 8am.
She was sent home to Frome, Somerset, that evening at 10.30pm after being told she had been put on the elective list under a category three section.
Hours later Tamara woke at 2am with pains in her stomach and again at 5am and was rushed to the RUH by ambulance.
Her baby was born but quickly transferred to a specialist unit at St Michael's Hospital in Bristol.
The heartbroken couple decided to turn off his life support machine on May 10 after being told he would probably grow up with severe disabilities and epilepsy.
Jamie appeared in Mad Men in 2009 and has also been in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Mr Turner.
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