Baby Mix-Up at RSHS Bandung Hospital, Police Investigate Alleged Nurse Negligence
Bandung City Police are investigating a case of alleged nurse negligence that nearly resulted in a baby being handed over to non-biological parents at Rumah Sakit Hasan Sadikin (RSHS) in Bandung.
The head of criminal investigation at Bandung Police, AKBP Anton, stated that they have requested information from the hospital to delve into the possibility of criminal elements or violations of standard operating procedures (SOP) in the incident.
"We are currently in the investigation stage, have coordinated with relevant parties, and will report the results of this investigation," Anton said in Bandung on Tuesday (14/4).
Police officers, according to Anton, have visited the scene and coordinated with the hospital to gather data and initial statements.
Nevertheless, Anton admitted that he cannot yet confirm whether the incident occurred due to administrative negligence or intentional actions.
"We are still in the investigation stage and will examine the SOP implemented at the hospital," he said.
Anton stated that they will review surveillance camera footage (CCTV) and seek statements from relevant parties, including the medical staff on duty at the time.
Additionally, the police will summon related parties for clarification to fully uncover the chronology of the event.
Previously, a mother named Nina Saleha shared her experience of a nurse’s negligence at RSHS Bandung via TikTok on Wednesday (8/4).
Nina, who had just given birth, claimed she nearly lost her baby in the treatment room at RSHS Bandung.
Nina recounted that her baby initially required care in the NICU at RSHS Bandung. After treatment, she received news from the hospital that her baby could be discharged.
While waiting for the administrative process, she and her husband went to eat.
She did not worry about her baby at that time because she trusted it was in the care room guarded by nurses.
"I had a bad feeling. I just went back upstairs to check on the baby," Nina said when contacted on Thursday (9/4).
Upon arriving at the waiting room, Nina was shocked to see her baby being carried by someone who was not a nurse.
Nina said she was emotional and quite hysterical upon seeing her child. She took her child while asking the person carrying the baby.
"Why are you carrying my baby? Then that woman seemed confused. I knew it was my baby from the blanket and clothes I prepared," she said.
Seeing the commotion, the nurses gathered. Nina asked the nurses why the baby was in someone else’s hands. She received an unsatisfactory response from the hospital staff.
"They said I was called but didn’t come. But I asked again, how could it be carried by someone else? That’s all their answer," Nina said.
Nina stated that in the baby room, there was no security personnel on guard. She expressed disappointment with the service provided by the nurses at RSHS.
"I want to report to the police. I don’t want this incident to happen again and affect others," she said.
Meanwhile, RSHS Bandung has issued a sanction in the form of a first warning letter to the negligent nurse who handed the baby to non-biological parents.
Additionally, the nurse has been removed from public health services and deactivated.
"The nurse has been deactivated, transferred to a non-patient-facing department, and given a SP1," said RSHS Director General dr. Rachim Dinata Marsidi, Sp.B., Finac., M.Kes, when contacted via text message on Friday (10/4).
Rachim said that RSHS Bandung will undergo an evaluation by the Ministry of Health, and he is prepared to accept it. He even mentioned that after the incident, RSHS management had reported it to the Ministry of Health.
"We at RSHS are ready for evaluation by the Ministry of Health and have reported this incident to the Ministry of Health," he said.
Rachim explained that they will also evaluate all nurses and ensure further training regarding SOP for handing babies to parents during care at RSHS.
"RSHS will evaluate and provide further training to nurses on compliance with SOP for handing babies to their parents, which has been running well so far," he said.