Issue over accidental baby cremation still not settled
BVI News Staff - Friday, June 15th, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority John Cline says the issue with the mother and the missing baby, who was cremated without her permission by Peebles Hospital, is still under negotiation.
In October last year, reports surfaced that a baby was missing from the morgue at Peebles Hospital. BVI News carried the story in November last year stating that the report was denied by the hospital management.
The Director of the Board of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), at that time, Glenroy Forbes, confirmed to BVI News that he received correspondence from a law firm claiming that they are representing the mother and seeking information.
Questioned as to whether the Authority will be making a financial settlement for the pain and suffering of the mother or if the mother is seeking monetary compensation, Forbes said he is unaware of any such arrangements, and added that the letter he received was asking for information so that they can advise their client. He said the he is not sure if the matter has gotten to the Authority’s lawyer but added, “But if it has, then it is between the lawyers now.”
At the news conference this week, Cline said, “this is a matter still under negotiation with the parents so that’s where it’s at right now”.
Cline was asked about his interest into the issue taking into consideration he offered advise and counseling to the mother when the matter surfaced. He said: “When the people came to me, they came to me in a pastoral capacity. There is no conflict there, and that’s where my involvement with them ended. I was not a’dvising them in terms of what they should do, how they should move forward; I was simply providing pastoral counsel for them at the time of their loss.”
Cline pointed out he is not involved in the negotiations.
BVI News reported in November last year that the child was born in early September, but succumbed a few hours after birth and was kept in the morgue awaiting an autopsy. Reports later indicated that the body was incinerated without the consent or knowledge of the parents.
A statement from the hospital’s Public Relations Manager Tamara Archibald-Gill also confirmed that an investigation was being undertaken, but denied that a body had disappeared and no mention of what was being investigated was revealed.
She later told this news site that she could not speak about the investigation, and the hospital continued to deny the reports of the missing baby.
However, the BVIHSA later issued a statement in which it apologised for what it called the “tragic mishandling of the body of a baby stowed in our morgue”. In that statement the Board said that they are committed to assisting the family in any way they can with their loss. Also in that statement, the Board said that they are investigating the matter in conjunction with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and revealed that the body was accidentally removed from the morgue and cremated due to a procedural error.
“Having identified this unprecedented error, measures have been immediately implemented to ensure that there is never a repeat of a similar incident,” the statement said.
Copyright 2013 BVI News, Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
12 Comments
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This comment is directed to “guest” If I were the parents I would beat the stupidity and the black off you.How insensitive of you to make such an assanine comment. I would surmise to say that you have never given birth to a child other wise you would be more compassionate.The mother carried that child for months growing inside of her. When you go to a hospital, you hope that the people entrusted with your life and that of your child are competent.I wish I could have beena juror in that case, I would bankrupt the government. Yes, money cannot replace the loss of a child,but this woman needs to set an example that this atrosity will NEVER happen to another parent.Too many people get away with murder and never pay the price. My heartfelt prayers are with the mother.
guest u sounnd so stupid this is a life we tlkin bout even so a honest mistake please this was not a cat or a dog it was a lil life a baby…and wa the hell born here have to do with it… i’m sure if u were in the state u be lookin money to…. i tell u some of u all need to think be4 u all tlk
god is good everyone. cant get enough of the holy ghost.
just wanted to add that.
God angel gone to rest. What are the parents looking out money? It was an honest mistake for a baby common we all knew babies are tiny.
Are they born here? or just passing through.
Parents just grieve the passing and move on with your life…
We all just passing through, this world is not our home.
How would you feel if this had happened to you or a close family member? What does being born here have to do with anything?? Mistake or not, they need to be held accountable for their actions! So everytime something goes wrong or someone goes missing we should just accept it and move on?? How sad!
“..was an honest mistake”
So let me see if I can wrapmy head around your comment – hmm – nope! When you go to have surgery and the “mistakenly” amputate your limb(s) or leave medical toosl inside you that is an honest mistake too in your eyes too then! SMDH! 
Pimento,
From the response Guest has already had surgery at Pebbles and obviously they took out the brain and left a rag in the space.
Guest, Can I meet you? I’ll show you an ‘honest miskate’ I trust you will move on after.
Your are an idiot.
I can see that you are not thinking with your head, you are thinking with your A**! So stupid and worthless.
when vip was in, cline defended the parents…..now ndp in, cline defending the government
what a croc
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