Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator - Radio
The special team that investigated the death of a baby at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston has identified serious procedural breaches at the institution.
According to an official from the Health Ministry, certain stipulated measures were not observed in attending to the pregnant mother, Caroline Edwards-Brown, who had previously lost a child.
It is understood that hospital officials also failed to place the 41-year-old woman under special observation, as customary, given her medical history.
The probe was ordered by the Health Ministry after reports surfaced that Mrs. Edwards-Brown lost her baby because plans for a Caesarian section to deliver her child were put off three times.
The operation was postponed because of a malfunctioning sterilizer. The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre source also said the investigation, headed by attorney-at-law Ethlyn Norton-Coke, found that no attempt was made to have the Caesarian section done at another health facility.
Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Wendel Wilkins, who is representing Mrs. Edwards-Brown, has begun legal procedures arising from the baby's death.
"We are gathering a body of evidence to review it and to make a determination whether there is any medical malpractice by the professional health staff," he said.
Prepared to settle
In addition, Mr. Wilkins said the family is prepared to settle the matter out of court.
"Once there is a genuine approach by the state to settle out of court then we'll certainly explore that," he said. "If there's lack of earnestness about it, then we may have to put the matter in court and pursue that while speaking out of court."
Speaking yesterday on the current affairs programme Good Evening Jamaica on Power 106 FM, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dr. Alverston Bailey, said the situation at the Victoria Jubilee has improved significantly since the incident involving Mrs. Edwards-Brown.
He said the sterilizer at the facility is now working and that concerns about hygienic conditions in the operating theatres have also been addressed.
In the meantime, the Health Ministry is to spend $77 million to replace the malfunctioning elevators at the hospital.
