UK – 11th December, 2016: A furious mum is suing a hospital for handing her new-born to a STRANGER to be breastfed. Bungling medical staff mixed up the two-day-old tot with a different baby before it was nursed by another woman.
Tammy Van Dyke was recuperating after giving birth when nurses gave her son Cody over to another new mum. The unnamed stranger mistakenly fed him along with one of her set of twins, while her other baby was left in the nursery.
The mishap at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, US, provoked outrage as the tots were reportedly wearing clear ID bracelets. Distressed Ms Van Dyke has filed a lawsuit claiming the incident led to “unnecessary medical treatment, tests and expenses, and severe mental injury and emotional pain and suffering,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Tests had to be carried out on little Cody for infectious diseases like hepatitis an even HIV — which Ms Van Dyke says caused her even greater concern. Further checks were carried out every three months for a whole year after the incident in December 2012.
She is seeking at least $50,000 (£39,700) for medical negligence.
In an interview with local TV channel KSTP, Tammy said: "Never in a million years would you think this could happen or would happen.” Michelle Smith, a spokesperson for Abbott's Mother Baby Centre, said it has since upgraded its baby identification procedures.
"We began using electronic identification bands for the mother and infant that must be matched when returning the infant to the mother. This helps us to assure that the identity of the infant and mother are matched each time."
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2377306/mum-suing-hospital-stranger-breast-fed-newborn/