Midwife, who delivered J. K. Rowling's kids, facing misconduct charges

London, Mar 17 (ANI): The midwife, who delivered two of J. K. Rowling's children, has been accused of misconduct for leaving her "inexperienced" business partner to care for a pregnant mother during a home birth.

A court was told that Deborah Purdue, 47, delayed sending the patient to hospital when she suffered complications, which resulted in the baby's death.

It was in the early hours of July 19, 2005 that Purdue, who ran the Dorset and Wiltshire Independent Midwives Company, was attending the mother at her home near Poole, Dorset.

However, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard that she left the woman in the birthing pool with midwife Frances Findlay, while she wrote up her notes in the kitchen.

Findlay said that she examined the patient to make sure that the baby was not in the breech position.

But Neil Millard told a NMC hearing in London that Findlay was too inexperienced to be able to diagnose that the infant was the wrong way round.

Although Finlay does not face charges, she admitted that she only delivered six babies a year but denied that she lacked experience.

After the expectant mother was taken to Poole Hospital, doctors claimed that she was in the process of having her baby, with parts of his lower body already bruised.

But medics later faced many problems in delivering the child, the committee heard.

"The baby was born at 7.52am in a very poor condition. Extensive resuscitation was given and the baby was placed on a ventilator but died later that evening at approximately 10.40pm," the Telegraph quoted Millard as saying.

Purdue, who delivered Rowling's two youngest children, is accused of failing to properly monitor the woman and ignored warning signs the baby boy was in distress.

Purdue, of Blandford Forum, Dorset, denies that her fitness to practice is suffering because of misconduct.

While the hearing continues, Purdue could face being struck off the nursing register if the charge is proved. (ANI)