Mum sues over fetus discovery shock

[GaryC 7]

A WOMAN was devastated to find her miscarried fetus had been mistakenly packed into a bag with her belongings by hospital staff.

The woman is still trying to cope with the shock of losing her child as well as the trauma of finding the body in her bag in her Ballarat Base Hospital room in December.

The incident is one of a string of lawsuits against the hospital in the past two months. But Ballarat Health Services say there is no cause for alarm.

The woman, who has other children, was 18 weeks pregnant when she went to the hospital with bad bleeding. Despite the efforts of staff she lost the baby.

The woman was admitted to hospital and was recovering from the miscarriage.

Hours after she lost her baby she went to her personal items bag, which is given to patients by the hospital for them to store clothes and other items.

As she put her hands into the bag she came upon a package labelled with her name and wrapped in a towel.

The woman unwrapped the package and found the fetus.

It is believed the woman was alone at the time and called out in shock. Nurses rushed to comfort her.

Ballarat Health spokesman Luke Mullane said a full investigation had been conducted into the event and the hospital would consider any recommendations to improve patient care, safety and support.

"We are extremely saddened and deeply regret what occurred and feel greatly for the family," he said.

"Ballarat Health Services offered all necessary support services to assist the family in coming to terms with the loss at the time and is continuing to do so.

"Since this event there have been a number of changes made in our procedures to ensure that families have the opportunity to consider their care options."

The woman was discharged after two days in hospital.

Slater and Gordon are representing the woman but would not comment.

She is not the only patient of Ballarat Health Services to call on Slater and Gordon.

In December the firm filed three writs against the service alleging medical negligence.

One writ concerns a mother who died from excessive bleeding at Ballarat Base Hospital after the birth of her son in December 2004.

In that case it is alleged the hospital failed to appropriately diagnose, monitor, treat and adequately manage the woman's condition.

The claim is for damages and is made on behalf of her estate and dependants.

In another case, a 34-year-old man suffered an injury to his ####### when an operating bed collapsed while he was having a procedure.

In his statement of claim the man said he also sustained a back injury, prostate injury and nervous shock because the bed was unsafe.

He has claimed damages for injury, loss and damage.

In a third case an 11-year-old girl, through her litigation guardian, has sued for damages alleging she suffered a brain injury and has developmental problems and hearing impairment because of negligence at her birth.

She alleges that after her birth by caesarean staff failed to adequately diagnose and treat post-natal complications.

Mr Mullane said the hospital could not comment on the incidents, some dating back to 1996, because they were subject to medico-legal processes.

But he said the health service was fully accredited with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and rejected any claims it was unsafe.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the Ballarat public could have confidence in the Ballarat hospital.

"I've asked for a report on these incidents. Let me assure local residents that Ballarat Health is a quality health service," he said.

"This is due to the professionalism and dedication of staff and the record funding provided by the Brumby Government."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23184...ml?from=mostpop

[Amby 490]

#######? where is this hospital located? I didn't figure it out from the story? australia because of the link? #######

[GaryC 7]

#######? where is this hospital located? I didn't figure it out from the story? australia because of the link? #######

Yeah, it's australia.

[mawilson 2,133]

#######? where is this hospital located? I didn't figure it out from the story? australia because of the link? #######

Yeah, it's australia.

The dingo ate her baby!

[Miranda&James 8]

That is absolutely horrifying. How could you possibly mess up and mistakenly put the child into the mothers personal items bag. It should not have even been in the room after the miscarriage occurred; I would think standard procedure is to either dispose of the body (at such a young stage) or inquire as to if the parent wanted to make any arrangements, not wrap it up to go

[britty 1]

With so many things happening in that hospital, I think they have to consider sabotage by an unhappy or particularly spiteful member of staff.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Very disturbing . I agree with Miranda&James.

[Marilyn. 340]

I know when I had my stillborn baby, they let us keep it in the room for as long as we wanted....

maybe that happened in this case and the nurses just forgot to take the baby out of the room

and at 18 weeks, you are not really given a choice of what you want to do with the baby.. the hospital usually takes care of it.... you are given the choice at around 20 weeks.....

[Mags 112]

Yeah, there is no excuse for this at all. In the UK a fetus at 18 weeks would have an autopsy done on it and testing to see if a cause of the miscarriage could be determined.

To have it put in the patient's bag is gross negligence.

Edited February 9, 2008 by Mags

[Jesse and Hema 2]

The dingo ate her baby!

Was thinking the same thing...