Committee Investigating Infant Swaps in Hospitals
MAKKAH: Investigations are being made regarding the swapping of two infants in a general hospital located in west of Makkan Al-Mukarramah by a committee. The issue was only addressed at the time the mistake was realized and the babies were given back to their mothers.
As she breastfed who she thought was her infant, a mother was surprised by one of the nurses barging into her room asking to take the infant back to the nursery room "for there has been a mix-up."
The Ministry of Health's official spokesman, Fawaz Al-Shaikh, explained that on the day the mistake took place at the obstetrics and gynecology department, there were 10 newborn infants being born at the same time. They were accidentally misnamed on the ankle bracelet as they bathed them, but the mistake was caught just in time.
A source said that one of the fathers initially demanded a DNA test until the conflict was solved by both parties.
The hospital has in excess of 5,000 deliveries a year, an average of 21 birth cases a day.
Arab News
