Dalphine Tagwireyi
Witbank hospital has suspended two nurses and a police investigation has been launched after the fetus of a still born baby went missing.
So far it is alleged:
- That the mother had a Caesarean section on 11th of December 2020 when 35 weeks pregnant, and that she was well aware that she was giving birth to a still born child.
- She was discharged on Friday and the baby’s fetus was kept at the hospital morgue over the weekend.
- On Monday, the mother and her family visited the hospital to ask for the fetus for burial.
- The family was told to come back the following day.
- On their return the family were instead given the wrong fetus, and theirs is missing.
The Mpumalanga MEC for Health, Ms Sasekani Manzini, expressed shock at the events. “It is unacceptable that we can misplace a fetus and not be able to account about the whereabouts of the body. This matter must be fully investigated and consequence management must apply,” she stated.
The family have opened a case with the police and Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said “investigations are already underway and we are working tirelessly to ensure the family lays their baby to rest”, he said.
The fate of the suspended nurses will be decided after the investigation is concluded.
Picture: @rainbowbaby
