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A Fulton County jury has awarded Jessica Rossand Treveon Taylor Sr. $2.25 million after a doctor posted graphic autopsy photos and videos of their deceased newborn on social media without their consent. The infant tragically died during childbirth in July 2023, and Dr. Jackson Gates actions only worsened the couples profound grief. Heres the lowdown
In July 2023, Jessica Ross was at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, ready to welcome her first child, Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr. But things took a tragic turn when the baby got stuck during delivery due to shoulder dystocia. The unborn child’s shoulders were caught in Ross’ pelvic area, causing serious complications during the birth. Per the lawsuit, Dr. Tracey St. Julian used excessive force on the babys head and neck, which allegedly led to decapitation.
After hours of labor, Ross had a C-section, but the babys body and head were delivered separately. Ross and Taylor’s bundle of joy didnt make it. Days later, a pathologist, Dr. Jackson Gates, performed an autopsy. The couple hired him to determine what led to the unborn babys demise following issues in getting the matter handled at the hospital. But what the couple didnt know is that Gates would go on to share the autopsy with his followers on social media.
A Fulton County jury has now awarded the couple $2.25 million in compensatory damages. They also received $ 250,000 in punitive damages. The ruling holds Gates accountable for the emotional distress and privacy invasion caused by the decision to post the autopsy. On Wednesday, June 18, following the judgment, the attorneys representing the parents said in a statement to NBC News:
“While we are pleased that a jury punished Dr. Jackson Gates for his reprehensible behavior,” they said. “Nothing can ease the pain that the parents, Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor, Sr., have experienced in losing their baby boy in such a horrific way.
The couple had reportedly paid $2,500 for Gates to do a private autopsy. In July 2023, he posted a video on IG showing their babys severed head. Fighting against the lawsuit, Gates stressed he didn’t mention the name of the deceased person in the pic. He also previously claimed that he had not violate HIPAA with his actions.
“It is not required by a physician to get consent to report a crime or some sort of health issue to the public, Gates said at the time. Ive been doing this for 15 years, publishing my autopsy cases to explain to the public the victimization of those persons who have died.
Gates lawyer, Ira Livnat, claimed he was educating his audience with no malicious intent, per the New York Post. However, the jury wasnt convinced and awarded Ross and Taylor, which is reportedly being paid for by Jackson and his company, Medical Diagnostics Choices.
But theres more. Ross and Taylor are still fighting with two more lawsuits following their win. One is aimed at Dr. St. Julian, the doctor who delivered the baby, for gross negligence, allegedly botching the procedure by not calling for backup or doing a C-section sooner.
The other lawsuit is reportedly against Southern Regional Medical Center due to the handling of the delivery of the unborn baby under its care. The Clayton County Medical Examiner had called the couples unborn childs demise a homicide in January 2024. The death was blamed on a broken neck and spinal cord from the delivery complications.
