An external commission from the Ministry of Health visited the General Hospital in Nikšić this week to determine the actions of employees in providing health care to a newborn who died in that institution on October 25th due to choking on milk. The commission's findings, as unofficially reported to "Vijesti", will be forwarded to the prosecutor's office once they are finalized.
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The Ministry of Health, headed by Vojislav Šimun, made only a brief statement on October 27 regarding this case that shook the Montenegrin public, stating that they would examine all the facts and determine the possible responsibility of all students.
Sources claim that the hospital's internal health care quality control committee has meanwhile completed its findings, which mainly contain statements from employees who were involved in caring for the newborn. The findings of the internal committee, in accordance with the Health Care Law, are submitted within five days of the request being submitted, and should contain information on the established factual situation, an opinion on the possible consequences for the health of patients, as well as recommendations for eliminating the identified shortcomings and omissions.
Although several hospital employees told "Vijesti" that two nurses were on vacation, the director Zoran Mrkic yesterday he said that they were suspended and that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against them.
The Higher State Prosecutor's Office reminded the day before yesterday that a case had been opened in connection with this case, but there were no new circumstances.
"The Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica has opened a case regarding the death of a newborn at the Nikšić General Hospital, which case is in the investigation phase, during which an order was given for an autopsy of the body, which autopsy report was not submitted to the prosecutor's office, and other measures and actions will be taken as necessary to make a decision," it was announced.
The newborn's family sent a letter to the media on October 28th stating that the girl was born healthy on October 22nd, and received the highest grade for the delivery, which passed without any complications.
"On Saturday, October 25, the newborn was diagnosed with jaundice. She was taken by her mother at around 6:30 p.m. that day to the room where she was supposed to stay for 24 hours and never returned," it was announced.
The family claims that, according to the preliminary autopsy report they received, death occurred on Saturday at around 9:10 p.m., and the cause of death was listed as choking on food while regurgitating.
"The baby was left alone, no one from the hospital staff was there to help her, to turn her, pat her, whatever...", the family states in the letter, explaining that the autopsy findings indicating possible negligence by the employees have been sent to the prosecutor's office.
Due to the death of a newborn, the management of the Nikšić General Hospital requested statements from everyone who provided healthcare in the Neonatal Department that day, including the head and head nurses of that department, as well as the Maternity Department.
According to unofficial information, the newborn was born healthy, and was kept in the neonatology ward due to elevated bilirubin levels, or jaundice, but this common condition in newborn babies is not the cause of death. At the time of death, a doctor and a nurse were on duty in the ward, sources claim.
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