The parents of an infant who died at the Eric Williams Sciences Complex some four years ago, is seeking action against the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA).
They have served the NCRHA with a pre-action letter by Freedom Law Chambers.
The letter, signed by attorney Sumayyah Mohammed, said the infant, Junior Walkes, was born at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital on December 18, 2020. During a medical examination, it was noted that the child had an irregular heartbeat and needed to be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for further testing.
The parents said they were informed later that day that the baby needed to be transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex because his heart valves were improperly positioned. The infant was transferred, and his mother, Leslie Ann St Rose, who had a C-section, remained at Port-of-Spain.
The mother, 45 at the time, had four daughters and was anxiously awaiting the birth of her son. She was 39 weeks pregnant at the time of her delivery.
On December 20, the parents were told that the child had to undergo a minor procedure. They were later told the child was doing well.
However, the baby died on December 22.
The woman reported that when she saw her child, she noticed there were no cuts indicative of a procedure. She requested his death certificate, and three years later, following several legal letters and the intervention of the Ombudsman, she was given limited information.
The letter said the medical records were vague and did not answer many of the parents’ questions.
“Our client is desperately seeking answers and closure and is compelled to seek accountability of the NCRHA for the tragic death of her baby boy.”
This is the latest of several pre-action protocol letters filed against the NCRHA and the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) over the deaths of babies.