Nationwide — A jury in Fulton County, Georgia, has awarded $2.25 million to the grieving parents of a baby who was decapitated during childbirth—and whose autopsy was later shared online without their permission. The parents, Treveon Taylor and Jessica Ross, received $2 million in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages from Dr. Jackson Gates, the Atlanta pathologist who posted disturbing footage of their baby’s autopsy on social media. Gates and his company, Medical Diagnostic Choices, were sued for invasion of privacy, fraud, and infliction of emotional distress.
NBC News reports that the tragic incident occurred on July 10, 2023, when the couple’s baby, Isaiah, died during delivery at Southern Regional Medical Center. Two days later, Ross hired Gates to perform a private autopsy for $2,500. According to the lawsuit, Gates was never granted permission—verbally or in writing—to share any images or videos from the autopsy. Despite this, he allegedly posted several graphic videos to Instagram showing the severed head and body of the infant. His account, which had a history of sharing autopsy footage, has since been removed, though he still operates a YouTube channel.
Family attorneys called Gates’ actions a betrayal, saying, “After the decapitation of their baby, Gates poured salt into the couple’s already deep wounds.” In a previous interview with NBC News, Gates defended his actions by citing a HIPAA exception that allows physicians to publicly disclose information about safety concerns in healthcare. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years,” Gates said. “I have not violated HIPAA.”
In addition to their lawsuit against Gates, Ross and Taylor are also suing Southern Regional Medical Center and obstetrician Dr. Tracey St. Julian. They allege that excessive force during a prolonged vaginal delivery, despite Ross requesting a C-section, led to the baby’s decapitation. According to court documents, St. Julian used extreme traction during delivery attempts, resulting in the infant suffering skull fractures and cervical spinal injuries. An emergency C-section was ultimately performed, but only after the baby had died.
The hospital has denied wrongdoing, claiming the infant had already died in utero before the delivery and decapitation occurred. However, a February 2024 ruling by the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office declared the death a homicide, citing cervical spine fractures caused by the actions of another person.
Neither Dr. St. Julian’s legal team nor the Southern Regional Medical Center has responded to recent requests for comment.