Choose your Dr. carefully

lookout123 · 07-21-2004, 12:10 PM

Teenager 'handed stillborn baby in bottle'
21 July 2004
A 14-year-old girl was handed her stillborn baby in a plastic specimen bottle and told to take it home by staff at a flagship hospital.

The teenager's shocked parents put the 11-week-old foetus in the family fridge before complaining to hospital bosses.

Staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital, in County Durham, gave the girl no explanation as to why she had to take the stillborn child home as they handed her the jar.

When the teenager's parents rang the hospital to complain, officials sent a midwife and an undertaker to collect it.

The County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust said it would be "issuing guidance on how to deal with a similar situation in the future".

The girl began to miscarry on Monday lunchtime and sought medical help at the £67 million PFI hospital, which was hailed as a flagship development when it was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair two years ago.

But the teenager and her mother were left stunned when hospital staff handed them the foetus, by now placed in a specimen bottle enclosed in a blue plastic bag and a brown padded envelope.

They were told to take it home overnight and to return it to the gynaecology department the following day.

The schoolgirl's mother told The Northern Echo: "We saw a nurse and a doctor who told us to take the foetus back for the night. They didn't explain and we were too upset to argue. We felt numb.

"They took it away then brought it back and put it in an envelope. When we got home all we could think of to do was to put in the fridge.

"We are all upset about it, especially as I lost a baby myself recently. It was very insensitive, particularly in view of my daughter's age.

"We knew our daughter was pregnant. She was looking forward to having the baby after what happened to me. Now she is devastated."

A trust spokesman said: "The trust has looked into what happened, and will be issuing guidance on how to deal with a similar situation in the future.

"Given the age of the child involved, we cannot release a more detailed statement on this issue."

mmm, after danac's stories and what i see in the paper - i think we should definitely strive to clone the UK's medical system.

07-21-2004, 12:10 PM	#17
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Teenager 'handed stillborn baby in bottle' 21 July 2004 A 14-year-old girl was handed her stillborn baby in a plastic specimen bottle and told to take it home by staff at a flagship hospital. The teenager's shocked parents put the 11-week-old foetus in the family fridge before complaining to hospital bosses. Staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital, in County Durham, gave the girl no explanation as to why she had to take the stillborn child home as they handed her the jar. When the teenager's parents rang the hospital to complain, officials sent a midwife and an undertaker to collect it. The County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust said it would be "issuing guidance on how to deal with a similar situation in the future". The girl began to miscarry on Monday lunchtime and sought medical help at the £67 million PFI hospital, which was hailed as a flagship development when it was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair two years ago. But the teenager and her mother were left stunned when hospital staff handed them the foetus, by now placed in a specimen bottle enclosed in a blue plastic bag and a brown padded envelope. They were told to take it home overnight and to return it to the gynaecology department the following day. The schoolgirl's mother told The Northern Echo: "We saw a nurse and a doctor who told us to take the foetus back for the night. They didn't explain and we were too upset to argue. We felt numb. "They took it away then brought it back and put it in an envelope. When we got home all we could think of to do was to put in the fridge. "We are all upset about it, especially as I lost a baby myself recently. It was very insensitive, particularly in view of my daughter's age. "We knew our daughter was pregnant. She was looking forward to having the baby after what happened to me. Now she is devastated." A trust spokesman said: "The trust has looked into what happened, and will be issuing guidance on how to deal with a similar situation in the future. "Given the age of the child involved, we cannot release a more detailed statement on this issue." mmm, after danac's stories and what i see in the paper - i think we should definitely strive to clone the UK's medical system. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

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