Missing baby hell for couple as dead foetus thrown in garbage
Parents wanted a burial after miscarriage
Say they were told foetus probably thrown out
Minister apologises, says he'll investigate
A YOUNG Forrestfield couple are considering legal action after their dead foetus was thrown out in the garbage at a Perth hospital.
Mother-of-two Lisa and her husband Charlie were left distraught and in shock after Lisa suffered a miscarriage at 17 weeks, Perth Now reports.
She was then told by hospital staff that their baby had been discarded with the hospital's medical waste.
The couple had arrived at Swan District Hospital on April 25 knowing there was a problem with the pregnancy.
Staff informed Lisa the following day she had miscarried and that their baby would be transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital for genetic testing and to determine a reason for the miscarriage.
The couple contacted King Edward the following day but were given no answers.
On April 27, Lisa and husband were told by a nurse at Swan District Hospital that "it's not a baby, it's just a foetus" and that it had "probably been thrown out with the medical waste".
The couple had wanted to take their baby's body home to bury.
Lawyer John Hammond, who has taken on the couple's case, said there was an obligation for the hospital to report the death of a foetus to the Registry of Births and Deaths after 20 weeks.
Although Lisa was only 17 weeks into her pregnancy, Mr Hammond said she was entitled to take the foetus home to bury.
Health Minister Kim Hames today apologised to the couple and said he would investigate the incident.
The North Metropolitan Area Health Service, which is responsible for both hospitals, said Swan District Hospital had erred in its treatment of the family.
“It is usual practice for any decisions on the management of a miscarried fetus to be discussed with and determined by the parents and we regret that this process was not followed in this instance," a spokesperson said.
Read more about the couple told their foetus had been discarded with medical waste at Perth Now.
http://www.news.com.au/national/missing ... 6094114716
This kind of thing simply disgusts me. I'm not familiar with other states, but Ohio has the Grieving Parents Act, which lets parents request a death certificate and burial regardless of the stage at which the miscarriage/stillbirth occurred. I can't imagine what they must be going through, and it disgusts me that someone could be so callous.
OF FLESH.