Health Ministry to investigate infant death at Hithadhoo hospital

The baby passed away on Monday while being treated at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for complication caused mainly from meconium aspiration following a C-section delivery on Sunday.

Khadhija Hafsa, the hospital in-charge, told Minivan News that statements required for the investigation have now been collected and sent to the ministry.

“The pediatrician at this hospital recommended the baby should be taken to Male’ immediately. We started working on that immediately and got Aasandha [insurance] approval that evening,” said Hafsa.

“But we couldn’t get a seat from the flight and were in the waiting list. Next morning we decided to bring the doctor here. The pediatrician from Hulhumale hospital was treating the baby when it passed away early that evening,” she added.

The baby received the best available treatment from the hospital, and later a more experienced pediatrician brought in from Hulhumale’ was treating the baby when it passed away almost twenty four hours later, she said.

Hafsa said the investigation will determine whether there was negligence of the hospital or anyone else.

Earlier she told local media that the baby was weak when delivered and that the death was being investigated as a “serious case”

According to local media ‘Haveeru‘ the mother blames the doctor and HRH’s negligence for the death of her sixth child.

“I don’t want anyone else to face a tragic incident like this. So, this incident should be investigated and action should be taken against the negligent,” the 44-year-old mother was quoted as saying.

She told Haveeru that the doctor had no interest in admitting her to the hospital and said she was not ready to give birth even after her water broke twice a few days back. She said the baby was delivered at 38 weeks, while the given due date was next Wednesday (April 2).