Omarion’s parents want independent autopsy

Brent James and Tracy Frederick yesterday met with officials of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope, where the hospital is based.

They met with the officials, including Medical Chief of Staff Dr Neil Peters, to discuss matters surrounding the baby’s death. However, the parents stated that they were dissatisfied with the explanations given at the meeting and added that the hospital authorities should have had better communication with them over Omarion’s diagnosis.

On Monday, the parents complained that Omarion was being treated for pneumonia but was told that he had died from chronic lung disease. Speaking after the meeting yesterday, Frederick said she still wanted an investigation to be carried out into Omarion’s death. “Dr Peters told us that he was 95 percent sure that the team of doctors were not negligent,” said Frederick.

However, the parents insisted that they were not letting up until a proper explanation is given for their child’s death. They claim that they were left in the dark by hospital authorities over Omarion’s diagnosis.

“They said he had pneumonia. They never informed us that Omarion was suffering from chronic lung disease. If they had told us straight up then we would have been able to spend the last days with him,” said Frederick.

She also added that a request has been made for the autopsy to be done at the St James Medical Centre since they were not comfortable with having the autopsy done at the EWMSC’s mortuary.

“Dr Peters told us that we would have to send a letter to him with the request. However this would take several days,” said Frederick. Funeral plans have been placed on hold to facilitate the autopsy.

Meanwhile, hospital sources yesterday said it was not a case of negligence on the part of the doctors who attended to baby Omarion. Sources said doctors attending to the baby did everything they could to treat the child.

“It was definitely not a case of the child being over medicated. The baby needed a special type and regime of medication to prevent heart failure and other complications,” the source said.

Baby Omarion was born at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital on February 27. He was eventually discharged from the hospital and it was at a check-up at the clinic that it was discovered he had a cold and was “breathing fast.”

The child was seen by Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne who recommended that he be sent to the paediatric hospital.