Michael Abrahams | Another ‘dead baby’ scandal

In July this year, nine newborn babies died from infections during a bacterial outbreak at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH). Two deaths were reported in August and two more in September, giving a total of thirteen.

However, the public was unaware of the issue until recently, when a media house, Nationwide Radio, broke the story on October 26.

Since then, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has been under fire, with accusations being made that he presided over a cover-up of the situation and withheld information about it from the public.

In his response, ‘False narratives and faulty comparisons’, published in The Gleaner on October 31, 2022, Tufton denied a cover-up. In his defence, he stated, “The primary concern at the time was solving the problem – ensuring no more loss of lives, while balancing the risk of causing panic and hysteria in the context where the situation now seemed under control.”

He also claimed that the first time the Ministry of Health and Wellness team brought the problem to his attention was “towards the end of August”.

However, in Parliament, Tufton was unwilling to reiterate his claim of being informed late. Opposition leader Mark Golding asked, “Under your watch in July, there was an outbreak at the premier maternal institution in the country and you are telling this House that you did not know about it until the end of August, in that context, is that what you are saying?”

Tufton replied, “I am a member of an administration that considers all issues and we act in the best interest of the country and I have always acted in the best interest of the public health of the people of Jamaica.”

Dissatisfied with Tufton’s failure to answer the question, Golding persisted: “Minister, you have not answered my question. Nine babies died under your watch in July and you are telling me that you did not know about it until the end of August. Are you saying that, minister? Tell this House if that is what you are saying?”

Tufton’s response: “I think I have responded to the member.”

After twice failing to answer the question posed by Golding, Tufton was shielded from further questioning by deputy speaker Juliet Holness, who said the time for fielding questions was complete.

In his Gleaner article, Tufton claimed that as minister of health and wellness, he has learnt to be forthright, but his dodging of Golding’s questions was anything but that.

So, when was he really made aware of the issue? His dandy shandy game with Golding does not rule out the possibility of him being informed at an earlier date. Also, his concern about the public panicking if informed about the crisis is understandable. However, when people are dying, the public needs to know. And babies are people.

By not saying anything about the crisis, pregnant women booked to deliver at VJH were deprived of an opportunity to make an informed decision regarding their place of delivery. For example, if a woman booked to deliver at VJH learnt there was an issue there, she could have chosen to deliver at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) instead, or privately at Andrews Memorial Hospital or Nuttall Hospital, or at public or private hospital in other parishes such as the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine or Hargreaves Memorial Hospital in Manchester, or at home.

There are options.

BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST

I empathise with the families of the babies who died from the infections and extend my deepest condolences to them. My first child, my daughter, was born prematurely and spent ten days on the neonatal unit at the UHWI, and left there in a good condition. Had my daughter succumbed to a bacterial infection on the unit, and I later found out there was an outbreak there but expectant mothers were not informed, my anger would have been near impossible to contain.

Also, I am an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and delivering babies is a significant part of my job. I have seen and felt the grief of women who, after months of carrying a baby in their bodies, go home empty-handed. There is no way I would allow a woman to go to a hospital I know is experiencing a bacterial outbreak and not inform her of the risks.

It is unacceptable not to let the public know there was an issue at VJH. The families of the babies who died after it was discovered that there was an outbreak deserve a public, heartfelt apology from the minister. They should also receive some type of compensation.

This is a clear demonstration of a lack of transparency and accountability and betrayal of public trust. There has to be some consequence. It cannot be business as usual.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @mikeyabrahams.