Couple Awarded $2.25 Million After Autopsy Videos of Deceased Baby Are Shared on Social Media

A couple from Georgia, who lost their baby during birth, was awarded a $2.25 million settlement after a pathologist posted graphic videos of their child’s autopsy online without permission. The couple, Jessica Ross and Traveon Taylor Sr., sued Dr. Jackson Gates and his Atlanta-based company, claiming emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and fraud.

Their baby was delivered at Southern Regional Medical Center in July 2023. The delivery involved complications where the baby’s shoulders became stuck, and excessive force was allegedly applied to the baby’s neck, resulting in the child’s decapitation. The baby’s head was delivered vaginally, and the rest of the body through a C-section. The death was later classified as a homicide.

After the autopsy, Dr. Gates shared multiple distressing images and videos on his Instagram, showing the remains of the infant, including the decapitated head. Although the videos were initially removed following a demand letter from the couple’s attorney, Gates reposted them, sparking further pain.

Gates explained that he often documents autopsies on social media for educational reasons and to emphasize the importance of independent examinations in cases of suspected medical misconduct. His attorney, Ira Livant, stated Gates deeply regrets any harm caused, asserting that if Gates had known the distress the images would cause, he would have refrained from sharing them.

As part of the verdict, the couple will receive $2 million in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. They are also pursuing separate legal actions against the doctor who performed the delivery and the hospital involved.