Punish the nurse(s) responsible for the baby’s fall

Nov 24, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Permit me to not only educate the public, correct previous misgivings, and at the selfsame time highlight the current calibre of nurses and by extension the profession existing in Guyana. It appears that truth deviation, falsehood and deception runs rampant irregardless of profession or public stature. The point in question concerns Baby Balgobin whose reasons for his present demise run the gamut ranging from the inane and vacuous to the blatantly ridiculous. As a qualified member of the Nightingalean genre, and at the risk of sounding repetitive, in the capacity Certified Midwife, ex-head of an Obstetrical Post-Partum Unit, and also a Nursing examiner for State Registered Nurses awaiting Licensure, I am somewhat struck at the excuse that the newborn rolled off the cot and fell to the ground. Such an excuse/ reason go to the very core of the training/ learning period, and calls for institution of harsh remedial measures. Newborns do not roll immediately following birth, and the nurse proffering such an excuse for the fall should be treated condignly. As early as 4 months a baby may be able to kick himself over, and it may take 5-6 months of age before the baby is able to flip from back to front. The rationale behind this age and stage is that such a movement requires stronger neck and arm muscles for this manoeuver. The Minister of Public Health, Mr. George Norton has indicated that he intends to turn the matter over to the Police. While this may be criminally correct, I daresay that he should also be in communication with the licensing body of the nurses as well as the doctor who was made aware of the incident, and the doctor who attended to the newborn after the fall.
What was he/she told about the occurrence? What were his findings? Had he/she felt that the injury was not consistent with the reported information? If so what immediate measures were instituted? The nurse(s) once found guilty should be treated condignly, and the matter referred to her licensing body for further investigation and sanctions as deemed necessary. A strong message should be sent, especially to colleagues who may try to lie
The media state that new evidence appear to be surfacing, this is somewhat late but seemingly better late than never. I am in accord with the Minister that it was negligence that caused the fall of the baby, although he further added that he would await the completion of the investigation. There are a few givens that remain constant in this sad saga befalling a new entrant to the world, but what is not given and cannot be forgiven is the profusion of reasons underpinning contact between baby’s head and the floor, and the human parts played. While the involved parties may be senior nurses, on the face of things they are certainly as infantile as the new born where it comes to telling the truth. Representatives of the health profession should be given the boot when they are found concealing the truth. After all nurses are the cornerstone of the health profession, and when a lie is told, you steal someone’s right to the truth. The parents deserve the right to the truth and the facts surrounding the acts.So let’s remove the caul from the fall.
Yvonne Sam

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