Emerald Giles-Perkins and her husband, Darryl Perkins, are facing unimaginable grief following the death of their newborn son, Prime, who passed away just one day after his birth in April 2024.
The couple has filed a lawsuit against Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Dr. Theresa Patton, the OB-GYN who attended to their delivery, claiming that improper medical care led to their son’s fatal head injuries.
According to the lawsuit, Giles-Perkins’ pregnancy had been without complications. However, the labor process took a tragic turn when, after her water broke, she experienced stalled labor. In an attempt to assist the delivery, Dr. Patton employed a vacuum extractor multiple times, which is meant to help ease the baby’s arrival by pulling the baby while the mother pushes.
Despite the use of the vacuum device at least four times, Prime was not delivered successfully and the situation escalated to the need for an emergency C-section.
Initially, the couple felt some relief when the baby was finally born. However, this relief soon turned into a nightmare as they watched their son’s condition deteriorate in intensive care.
Hospital staff initially informed the couple that Prime had contracted an infection, supposedly from Giles-Perkins. As the hours passed, it became increasingly clear that the situation was more dire than they had been led to believe.
The heartrending moment when the couple realized they would have to say goodbye to their son is etched in their memories. Darryl Perkins recounted the moment he wheeled his wife to the NICU and heard her wailing, a sound that has haunted him since.
After their son passed away, the Perkins sought answers through an independent autopsy. They questioned the initial diagnosis and suspected that Prime’s death was not due to the said infection the hospital cited.
The independent autopsy report, conducted by American Forensics, confirmed their suspicions. The pathologist concluded that Prime died as a result of complications from childbirth related to the failed vacuum-assisted delivery, which indicated that medical negligence may have played a role.
The family’s attorney, Geoff Henley, stated that the couple deserves financial restitution for the loss of their son and the emotional pain they have endured since that fateful day.
Henley expressed hope that the lawsuit would also lead to consequences for Dr. Patton, advocating for change in the medical community to prevent future tragedies of this nature.
“Emerald Giles said ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ to her son in the same breath,” Henley remarked, emphasizing the profound impact this loss has had on the Perkins family.
As of the latest updates, the Texas Medical Board has no listed actions against Dr. Patton, further complicating the couple’s pursuit of justice.
The lawsuit, filed on May 29, is currently in its early stages, and there has been no public response from the defendants, Methodist Health or Dr. Patton, regarding the allegations raised by the Perkins.
The couple continues to fight for acknowledgment of their tragic loss while hoping that their experiences can bring about necessary changes in medical practices to ensure safer childbirths in the future.
image source from：https://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/2025/06/12/lawsuit-alleges-dallas-doctors-mistakes-caused-death-of-one-day-old-baby/
