Travel ban on SMC medical staff over twin babies’ death

Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

A travel ban has been imposed on all members of the medical team at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) involved in the death of infant twins Fatima and Zahra last week, pending further investigations to determine their criminal liability. This was confirmed by Ministries and Public Bodies Chief Prosecutor Adnan Al Weda’ee.

“The Public Prosecution received the report of the Technical Committee this morning with regard to the professional and ethical errors of the medical team,” Al Weda’ee said. “The Committee was formed by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) based on the decision of the Public Prosecution. The report includes what the mission of the committee has concluded and the results of its investigation.”

Explaining further, Al Weda’ee added: “The Public Prosecution began studying the report to determine the medical procedures that were followed in relation to the newborns, their mother, and members of the medical staff. The prosecution also summoned the head of the committee and listened to his statements and what was mentioned in the report. The Public Prosecution has issued an order to prevent all members of the medical staff from travelling. Investigations are still continuing to hear the statements of all those involved in the incident to determine their criminal liability.”

As reported earlier, the shocking death of the two babies stirred a public uproar. The incident was revealed by the father, who said that he received his premature babies from the hospital “in bags” after being pronounced dead. He, however, discovered that they were still alive at the graveyard a few minutes before their burial.

The shocking incident reportedly took place on 16 October, a day after the babies were delivered and both were allegedly kept alive inside plastic bags inside the hospital’s morgue for a whole day. They both died after their father brought them back to SMC and they were buried on Sunday. The father lodged a complaint to the Public Prosecution, which immediately launched a probe into the incident.