Director says only post-mortem can determine cause

Tragic death of infant at Anuradhapura Hospital 

• The Hospital Director affirmed the hospital staff carried out their duties diligently during the delivery process

By B.G. Chaturanga   

An unsettling incident at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has drawn public attention after parents claimed their infant’s death resulted from a fall off the delivery bed. However, Dr. Dulan Samaraweera, the Hospital Director, has stressed that reaching a definitive conclusion regarding the cause of death is contingent upon the outcome of a comprehensive post-mortem examination.  

 Addressing the media, Dr. Samaraweera underlined the importance of withholding judgments until all facts are ascertained. He disclosed that the incident transpired in the hospital’s intensive care unit on a Sunday. Dismissing allegations of medical negligence, he affirmed that the hospital staff carried out their duties diligently during the delivery process.   

Dr. Samaraweera expounded on the typical childbirth timeline of approximately 20 minutes, characterized by a gradual progression from the head to the rest of the body. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that unforeseen rapid deliveries can present unforeseeable challenges for medical personnel, complicating their swift response.   
The incident involved a mother transferred from another medical facility due to accommodation limitations. Experiencing symptoms of premature delivery at around 32 weeks, she gave birth to an underweight child.   
Dr. Samaraweera recounted the sequence of events culminating in the infant’s tragic demise. He detailed how the nursing and family health officers in the labour room were preparing for the delivery when the infant’s head was suddenly expelled from the womb with force, resulting in the umbilical cord snapping and the child sliding down the bed. While medical staff attempted to catch the child, the precise circumstances of this endeavour remain uncertain, awaiting clarification from the impending postmortem analysis.   

The director highlighted potential complications arising from rapid births, including damage to blood vessels in the head leading to internal bleeding. Notably, such damage could also stem from a fall. Dr. Samaraweera empathized with the difficulties posed to medical staff managing abrupt deliveries, underscoring the contrast to their preparedness for more gradual processes.   

With consideration for the mother’s fragile condition, the hospital assigned three nursing officers to oversee the delivery, a departure from the conventional pairing of a Family Health Officer and a trained Female Nursing Officer. In conclusion, Dr. Samaraweera assured the public of his responsiveness to any grievances but emphasized the need to await the postmortem results before reaching conclusive judgments about the infant’s untimely passing. This unfortunate event serves as a somber reminder of the intricacies surrounding childbirth and the unforeseen challenges healthcare professionals might encounter. 

•  Considering the mother’s fragile condition, the hospital assigned three nursing officers to oversee the delivery