Newborns Get Switched At Melaka Hospital Allegedly By Negligent Health Workers

The state Health Department is conducting an internal investigation into the case of babies being switched at the Melaka Hospital last week to find out whether there was negligence on the part of health workers.

According to Berita Harian, State Health and Anti-Drug EXCO, Datuk Rahmad Mariman said disciplinary action should be taken against the health workers involved if there is an element of negligence that caused the case to occur.

Recently, the incident of an exchange of babies born on February 12 weighing 3.1 kilograms was shared by a woman on her Facebook page.

In the post, the woman reportedly said that she was allowed to return on 15 February but her baby boy was detained at the hospital ward due to jaundice.

However, on 17 February when she came back to the hospital to breastfeed her baby, she was shocked to find a baby boy who was not her son placed in the crib.

The woman’s baby was taken by someone else after they were allowed to leave the ward at noon on the same day.

However, the hospital managed to contact the parents of the baby and they exchanged their babies again.

Rahmad said the case of the baby exchange was resolved well between the hospital and the two families.

“This case has never happened in Melaka and it is said to be due to the mistakes and negligence of the staff,” he said.

“So I recommend that the health workers involved be subject to disciplinary action because it is a serious case,” he said at a press conference at his office in Ayer Molek on 22 February.

“I represent the state government and the state Health Department, and we would like to apologise for the matter and hope the same incident does not happen again,” he said.

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comment section below.

Also Read: 1yo Baby Fined RM100 By Condominium Management In Ampang For Not Wearing Mask In Elevator