Two newborns mistakenly swapped at Mymensingh hospital

Two newborns were mistakenly handed over to the wrong families at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital as their mothers had the same name. The mistake was discovered hours later, and the babies were reunited with their respective families on Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred at the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Monday afternoon. Hospital authorities brought one of the babies back from the other family around 3:00 AM after discovering the mix-up.

According to hospital and family sources, a baby girl born to Nadira and Masud Islam of Jagannathbari in Sarishabari was admitted to the NICU on Saturday after developing complications following her birth at a private hospital in Jamalpur. She was discharged around 5:00 PM on Monday after treatment.

Another baby girl, born on the same day to Abu Raihan and Nadira of Pumbail village in Gouripur, was also receiving treatment at the NICU after developing health complications following a normal delivery at Ishwarganj Upazila Health Complex.

The Gouripur family said the baby’s mother breastfed her at the NICU around 11:00 AM on Monday before the discharge process began. However, as the family had to wait for the admission token, they went to collect the baby around 6:00 PM.

When hospital staff handed them a newborn, the family immediately suspected a mistake. Abu Raihan said the baby was not their child and that the baby’s appearance did not match their own.

The family demanded that the baby’s identity be verified. After the family raised concerns, hospital authorities investigated and found that the Gouripur family’s baby had mistakenly been handed over to the Sarishabari family, who had already left the hospital with the child.

Hospital authorities then contacted the Jamalpur family and brought the baby back to the hospital around 3:00 AM. The two families received their respective children on Tuesday morning.

Ruhul Amin, speaking on behalf of the Gouripur family, said each baby has a token containing the parents’ names and a serial number. Although the mothers had the same name, the fathers’ names were different.

“We want to know how such a mistake happened. Action should be taken against those responsible so that this does not happen to anyone else,” he said.

Mymensingh Medical College Hospital Deputy Director Zakiul Islam said the mix-up occurred because the two mothers had the same name.

“Once the mistake was detected, the newborn was brought back that night. The babies were handed over to their respective families on Tuesday morning,” he said.

He added that an investigation would be conducted and action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence.

SKS