Great Britain
Daughter is suing her mother’s family doctor for millions for allowing her to be born
Evie Toombes manages to lead an active life with horses despite her illness
© Instagram / evie.toombes
A young woman claims that her mother’s family doctor failed to tell her about the importance of folic acid supplements during pregnancy. Now she says her birth should never have happened because of this.
Evie Toombes, of Skegness, Lincolnshire, is suing her mother’s family doctor for millions in damages for claiming her birth should not have taken place. The para-show jumper was born with spina bifida, which is popularly known as “open back”.
This is a condition in which a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not develop in the womb, resulting in a gap in the spine. Toombes therefore have to be artificially fed around the clock on some days and sometimes hangs on tubes. At some point, the 20-year-old will have to rely on a wheelchair and future gastrointestinal diseases are also emerging.
Still a successful show jumper
Despite her disability, Evie Toombes has made a career as a show jumper, competing against both disabled and non-disabled people. A few years ago she even met Prince William and his wife Kate when they won the “Inspiration Young Person Award” at a charity event.
She recently appeared on ITV’s “Hidden Disabilities: What’s The Truth?” to speak openly about their disability, which is not visible at first glance. And yet she now says that her birth could – and should – have been prevented. She blames her mother’s family doctor.
Toombe’s mother might not have gotten pregnant at all
Toombes claims that if her mother’s doctor advised her mother to take folic acid supplements to reduce her risk of spina bifida – which in this case was due to folic acid deficiency – her mother would not have become pregnant in the first place and Evie would not have been born. However, the doctor denies the claims, stating that he gave “reasonable advice” to Ms. Toombes.
The 50-year-old mother told the High Court that she went to the said doctor’s office to discuss her fertility plans with him. After the loss of both of her parents, Mrs. Toombes was determined to have a family. Despite talking about folic acid during the counseling, Ms. Toombes insists that her doctor did not tell her about the importance of folic acid in preventing spina bifida.
The attorney stated in court that if Ms. Toombes had been advised appropriately by her family doctor, she would not have become pregnant in such a “precipitous” manner, but would have ensured a healthy folic acid level before proceeding with child planning. The doctor, in turn, objected and said that he would certainly have advised the mother to eat well and have good folic acid levels. A judgment is still pending.
Source: “The Mirror”