Belgian anaesthetist Helga Wauters admitted to drinking vodka before attending an emergency caesarean at private French clinic.
Helga has been charged with aggravated manslaughter after the 28-year-old British woman in her care suffered a heart attack after being deprived of oxygen.
“The night of the incident, I drank half a 50cl (500 ml) bottle of a mixture of vodka and water. I was not drunk; I was at 70 per cent of my capacities. I need vodka so that I don’t shake.”
The woman stopped breather during the caesarean, and while attempting to ventilate the patient Helga inserted the tube into her oesophagus instead of her windpipe.
When emergency services arrived they reportedly found “a patient in cardiac arrest, cyanotic (blue) and people present who were doing nothing”.
The woman was rushed to hospital where she died four days later. Her baby survived and is being cared for.
When Helga reported to police she was found to be three times over the legal drink-drive limit, admitting she has a “pathological problem” with alcohol. When police searched her home they found 17 empty bottles of vodka.
Helga is currently on trial for manslaughter and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
