Parents of babies who died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have raised questions about why they were left out of what is now being labelled a one-sided investigation by the Pan American Health Organisation’s three experts who visited the country last week. In fact, they are labelling the probe a political “pappyshow”.
The complaint was made in a pre-action protocol letter sent to the NWRHA by Freedom Chambers, which is headed by attorney Anand Ramlogan, SC. The firm has been handling the complaints of parents whose babies have died at the hospital.
The PAHO investigation was concluded on Friday.
While commending the PAHO team for completing its investigation into the cluster of baby deaths at the PoSGH NICU quickly, the letter stated that the clients “are extremely concerned about the lack of transparency and fairness in this investigation procession, as none of the mothers or fathers whose babies died were contacted to provide a statement or to be interviewed by the investigators.”
Stating they were at a loss to understand how the facts and circumstances surrounding the deaths of the babies could be properly and thoroughly investigated, as the most critical and key players—the victims who lost their babies—were excluded from the investigative process, the letter said, “It is patently unfair for the investigators to listen to what the doctors, nurses, and management have to say and base their findings on this one-sided version of what transpired.
“This investigation is therefore hopelessly biased and one-sided. It is clear that this investigation was nothing more than a political “pappyshow” designed to do political damage control. It is nothing more than a public relations stunt designed to quell public outrage and anger over the death of these innocent babies.”
While the NWRHA has agreed to pay for a limited amount of psychological counselling for eight families, the letter further stated that there were many other families whose babies died in the PoSGH.
“We ask that you adopt a similar course and agree to pay for psychological counselling for these families as well with the approved independent psychologist.”
The letter also said no one knew the status of the parallel investigation being conducted by the NWRHA.
“That investigation would have in fact commenced before the PAHO investigation and it is a mystery to our clients as to what is taking place with that investigation. Again, no one has contacted our clients to be part of that investigation.”
The letter described that scenario as an exercise in futility.
“We cannot see how the NWRHA could appoint itself to investigate itself without reference to the victims of the medical negligence,” it said.
It also asked for full disclosure about the details of the internal investigation which appeared to be shrouded in mystery.
“We call upon the NWRHA to terminate this ridiculous investigation and stop wasting time and resources that can be better utilised in raising the standard of patient care.”