A young couple is accusing the New Amsterdam Public Hospital of negligence following the death of their newborn several hours after delivery at the institution.
Nandram Gopaul, 21, is calling for an investigation to be launched to ascertain exactly what led to his baby’s death. “Me na sure what to do right now,” Gopaul told Sunday Stabroek, as he stressed that he will be seeking advice to follow up the matter.
Gopaul, of Lot 150 Shieldstown Village, West Bank Berbice, explained that his wife, Sheliza Abrahim, 18, was rushed to the hospital on Friday after she began to experience intense pain. “When she getting the pain hot, hot, me tell she to tell the nurse and the nurse tell she, ‘No you ain’t get the right pain yet.’ And she (Abrahim) tell me how them get she about one hour delay,” he said.
“She tell them she done make one child already and she know what is it, and she getting hot, hot pain but them keep telling she she na ready. Them keep telling she that she na get the righted pain yet,” Gopaul explained.
However, he said his wife told him that she then felt that her baby was coming. “And when the doctor run and check she now, they feel the baby head deh coming out,” he added.
She was rushed to the theatre, where the baby, a girl, was delivered.
Gopaul added that his wife was told the baby defecated in her and had also ingested some it, resulting in attendants having to “pump it out back,” the man related. “Them say the thing been where she (baby) lungs deh but them try and couldn’t do anything because the baby end up and [defecate] in she because it take long to deliver,” he added.
The couple’s baby passed away around 7.30 on Friday evening.
A distraught Gopaul explained that he does not know what to do at this time. “Me wife keep crying. She getting discharge today (yesterday) and Monday them go cut (conduct a post-mortem) the baby,” he noted.
Gopaul stated that he and his wife had prepared to bring home their bundle of joy. “Was full nine month and me feel real bad because we did expect to get we child,” he said. Additionally, the man said, “Nobody ain’t tell me nothing like one sorry. This can happen to many people, na me alone.”
Meanwhile, Director of Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, when contacted yesterday, stated that in such matters, the hospital has 24 hours to compile a report of what transpired. He promised to update this newspaper on the case after he receives the report and a post mortem-examination is conducted.
