CNA: KKH Apologises For Baby Swap Incident

[Vulcann]

[sweatdrop]

 

From CNA:

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1238207/1/.html

 

Singapore News

KKH apologises for baby swap incident

By Shing Geok Shan | Posted: 19 November 2012 2012 hrs

 

SINGAPORE: Two new-born babies were wrongly discharged to different mothers at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) on Sunday.

 

The babies have been reunited with their biological parents and are doing well.

 

KKH said the incident came to light when one of the parents noticed that the baby taken home wore an identification tag belonging to another mother.

 

This happened about an hour after they brought him home.

 

KKH said all babies have double tags, and this baby had an incorrect tag and a correct tag on his legs when he was given to the wrong parents.

 

The hospital suspected that checks were not carried out properly when the baby was being discharged.

 

The other baby, also a boy, was with the wrong parents for about 10 hours.

 

He was wearing two correct tags but was given to the wrong set of parents during discharge.

 

The hospital informed the parents after a blood test of the first baby confirmed the mix-up.

 

It has conducted DNA tests on the babies and is waiting for the results.

 

KKH said on Monday that it deeply regrets this error and is now carrying out thorough investigations to find out how this error occurred.

 

It is extending full support to both families -- medically and emotionally.

 

Both mothers have been offered counselling by the hospital.

 

KKH said it takes a very serious view of the incident and it unreservedly apologised to the parents for this error and pledged to take all steps to prevent any recurrence.

 

A full review is being carried out, and the Ministry of Health has been informed.

 

- CNA/lp

[Joseph22]

i find it strange. you mean the parents cannot reconise their own baby???

Edited November 19, 2012 by Joseph22

[Toothiewabbit]

Heads are going to roll for this one. Which is a pity as KKH has done well to improve its patient care services for the past few years.

 

Can't imagine the trauma the parents are going through now...

Edited November 19, 2012 by Toothiewabbit

[Nightsky]

i find it strange. you mean the parents cannot reconise their own baby???

 

Your comment implicitly indicates the prerequisite that the father was present during the birth; the mother was conscious throughout the birthing process, or both.

 

It is possible none of the above scenarios occurred.

 

Don't be a Captain Hindsight. Don't assume; it makes an ASS out of U and ME.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Nightsky

[Vulcann]

The question we all should be asking is this a highly unfortunate but one-off mistake or otherwise.

 

That's why the [sweatdrop]

 

The hospital must now rigorously assure everyone, especially folks who gave birth there previously, that this incident is an isolated event and with a rigid system in place there is no reason to think otherwise.

 

If not I fear there would be quite a few panicky couples rushing to conduct DNA tests for themselves and their babies soon if this is not handled properly.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Vulcann

[Littleknown]

 

More scary is the mistake was realised by luck.

 

Obviously a system problem and not the first time.

[Felipe]

Your comment implicitly indicates the prerequisite that the father was present during the birth; the mother was conscious throughout the birthing process, or both.

 

It is possible none of the above scenarios occurred.

 

Don't be a Captain Hindsight. Don't assume; it makes an ASS out of U and ME.

quite hard leh. those just born unless different race more or less look the same.

[Porche]

Heng I never let my wife deliver at kk

[Joseph22]

Your comment implicitly indicates the prerequisite that the father was present during the birth; the mother was conscious throughout the birthing process, or both.

 

It is possible none of the above scenarios occurred.

 

Don't be a Captain Hindsight. Don't assume; it makes an ASS out of U and ME.

 

then even worse. if the father is not present and mother is not conscious, the first thing when you received the baby in the ward is to check if its the right baby. dont tell me 1 to 2 days in the hospital, the parents dont check if its the correct baby.

 

also what make you so sure both the parents are in the same situation.

 

you ASSUME right??

Edited November 19, 2012 by Joseph22

[Joseph22]

quite hard leh. those just born unless different race more or less look the same.

hard meh?? i find it easy to distinguish baby from one another. from my own children to my friends when they given birth. not that hard to indentify.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Joseph22

[Vulcann]

hard meh?? i find it easy to distinguish baby from one another. from my own children to my friends when they given birth. all easy to identify.

 

Bro, frankly from personally experience quite difficult to tell.

 

All new borns unlike you and me have big hairy moles here and spikey hairdoes to identify but all look alike to me and some. If not for the tags on their tiny limbs you cant't really tell yours initially from the 101 babies in the nursery room.

 

 

 

 

[Joseph22]

Bro, frankly from personally experience quite difficult to tell.

 

All new borns unlike you and me have big hairy moles here and spikey hairdoes to identify but all look alike to me and some. If not for the tags on their tiny limbs you cant't really tell yours initially from the 101 babies in the nursery room.

 

hmm.. ok... so far from my own experience is that i find it easy to tell.

 

but then again, my wife gave birth in SGH. maybe there the baby lesser than KK so easier to identify bah.

 

and most of my friend gave birth in TMC also lesser baby than KK.

[Vid]

I thought babies are tagged the moment they are born. How can a baby have a wrong tag? I remember very clearly that the nurse will ask me if my wife's name is correct on the tags before placing them on the baby's feet.

 

Unless both women gave birth in the same room and the husbands fainted

[Tigershark1976]

LOL.... r u a father?? The parent usually see the baby a few times nia... how to recognise?? and not to forget, new born baby change a lot within the 1st week after born. Ask your parent if you dont believe.

[Obscurest]

Heng I never let my wife deliver at kk

 

Is not about KK. It can happen anywhere.

 

You can have the best system in place but if over complacent, things can turn ugly.

 

Come to think of it, there is a similiar case in overseas the only issue is that they discovered this a few yrs later. That's the worst. For the past yrs you have showered the kid with all your care love n concern will u really give him up and change it back?

[Obscurest]

LOL.... r u a father?? The parent usually see the baby a few times nia... how to recognise?? and not to forget, new born baby change a lot within the 1st week after born. Ask your parent if you dont believe.

 

Actually not true. Be it is C sect or natural birth the nurse will carry the baby to show the parents unless the kid need to b isolated. Plus during breastfeeding time. I can rem how my son look like and how he stare at us at his own little transparrent bed while the doc stitch up my mrs.

[Jman888]

Heng I never let my wife deliver at kk

 

 

err..... maybe the chance for other hospitals is ever higher

[Jman888]

if the baby has been with the mum and dad for 2 days in the hospital, they have been feeding him and holding him for 2 days (4 days for c section), you still can't recognize your baby or smell something wrong??

 

Your comment implicitly indicates the prerequisite that the father was present during the birth; the mother was conscious throughout the birthing process, or both.

 

It is possible none of the above scenarios occurred.

 

Don't be a Captain Hindsight. Don't assume; it makes an ASS out of U and ME.