Family awaiting autopsy results

The family is awaiting the results before making a final decision on whether or not they will sue for medical negligence. Chelsea Vansluytman, 19, from Dinsley Village, Tacarigua, told Newsday the family has struggled to cope with the baby’s death.

“We trying to keep up right now,” she said. Christian was the first child for her and husband Ravon, a pool maintenance worker . Their son was born on July 18 at Mt Hope Hospital and was premature at 29 weeks.

He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and remained there for two months, up to the time of his death.

Initial results were that the baby died from respiratory related complications. Further autopsy results are pending from the Forensic Science Centre in St James. The family has accused the hospital of negligence, claiming that: his right leg was broken by a doctor; he was swollen after the administering of too many IVs; that he fell while in care of the doctors; he received burns about the body; and that he was administered too much morphine.

Chairman of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) Dr Shehenaz Mohammed had previously told Newsday, “investigations so far have shown no evidence of neglect, or negligence, in the care of the baby”. She noted that the baby was extremely pre-term and was in NICU because he was very sick.

On the broken leg she said it was likely due to the fact that he was being fed intravenously to avoid sepsis (a severe and potentially fatal blood infection). On allegations about the baby falling while in hospital care she noted that babies in the unit are always kept in incubators.