The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has said that no forceps were used in the delivery of a child, at the centre of a newspaper report that suggested that the hospital erred in the procedure.
The Kaieteur News article headlined ‘Child crippled due to faulty delivery’ and published in the paper’s Sunday edition contains information that is “completely erroneous,” the GPHC said in a statement.
The hospital said the “misinformation” from all appearances stems from a relationship that exists between the alleged complainant and the reporter and, further, the libellous article was published without affording the hospital an opportunity to respond to the claims.
The hospital emphasised “without hesitation and fear” that no forceps were used in the delivery of the said baby and there are records to prove same. “As a matter of fact, the hospital staff has not used forceps in the delivery process since October of 2007,” the statement said.
The GPHC said it is unfortunate that this or any child has to suffer from these sometimes unavoidable illnesses/complications; however, it will not be made a scapegoat in this or any other incident.
According to the hospital, the baby’s delivery was aided by an episiotomy performed on the mother as she had been experiencing a prolonged labour.
The baby was born severely asphyxiated and, moreover, her Apgar score at the time of delivery was 2, 2, and 3, which is very low. The baby also experienced several seizures subsequent to delivery, which resulted in her being placed in the Neo-natal Unit. The hospital also noted that babies with such severe problems at birth sometimes develop cerebral injuries, which may become life threatening.
The GPHC said it had invited the child’s relative, who was the reporter and complainant, to visit the office of its Chief Executive Officer to clarify the issue. It said too that all patients/clients of the hospital are invited and are free to lodge their grievances at its Clients’ Relations Office. “There should be no fear of victimisation,” it said.
