DA’s Gauteng shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, believes that the horrific reported case of a family being given the wrong dead baby at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto highlights the need for tighter mortuary procedures in Gauteng.
This follows three similar cases in the past two years of wrong bodies released from Gauteng state mortuaries (See previous story).
After giving birth to a boy who died shortly thereafter, mother Ntsekiseng Gobela (20) was forced to search for the body among other dead bodies in the hospital mortuary.
When she found him, the staff refused to release the body.
Gobela is still traumatised by the experience.
Bloom welcomed the Gauteng Health Department’s suspension of the clerk and three mortuary assistants while investigations are underway, but he said, “Mortuary staff need sensitivity training, which is clearly not in evidence in this instance. No family should ever be subjected to secondary trauma of this nature after losing a loved one.”
Spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, Steve Mabona, confirmed that the mother was admitted and gave birth at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital.
The baby died later the same day and the mother was discharged the following day.
It is alleged that the hospital mortuary gave the bereaved family the body of another family’s newborn, with incorrect tag information.
This was discovered when the family was about to bury the baby.
A criminal case has been opened with the Jabulani Police Station. Four officials have been provisionally suspended, pending internal and police investigations.
To rectify the confusion, DNA testing will be conducted.
“The Department conveys its condolences to the bereaved mother and her family. It will ensure that the family is assisted with costs incurred thus far,” Mabona.
