Private hospital denies allegation of mishandling deceased baby’s body

 

Hospital Bersalin Razif was accused of withholding the body for two weeks because the family could not pay an outstanding bill.

PETALING JAYA: 

Hospital Bersalin Razif (HBR), the private hospital accused of mishandling the remains of a deceased baby and delaying burial arrangements, has denied any misconduct.

The hospital said the mother, who claimed it was her first pregnancy, arrived in active labour with no prior antenatal checkups.

She was accompanied by a man who was initially described as her husband, but who later clarified that they were not married.

“She was brought to the labour room and delivered almost immediately. Her baby was born with cyclopia syndrome, with one eye, an absent nose and anus,” it said in a statement.

HBR said the baby died shortly after receiving medical care, and the man was given a burial permit with instructions to arrange the burial the following day.

The mother, discharged the next day, informed hospital staff that she could not afford the RM2,480 hospital bill.

Despite this, HBR said it allowed the family to proceed with the burial while working out payment arrangements.

“As days passed, HBR kept reminding her to proceed with the burial, but she kept saying the ‘husband’ is arranging.”

The hospital further claimed it provided counselling, free meals and support to the mother, who reportedly declined to involve the police or provide any contact details for her family.

“She claimed she lived in a rented room with no nearby relatives or friends,” it said.

“HBR remains committed to transparency and compliance in all its transactions.”

Earlier today, at a press conference in the Parliament complex, Perikatan Nasional MPs called on the health ministry to launch an investigation into the incident and hold the hospital management accountable.

One of the MPs, Ahmad Yunus Hairi, said the hospital management should have contacted the social welfare department or the Selangor Zakat Board if the family truly could not afford the costs.

The media reported that the baby’s body was allegedly kept in the hospital mortuary despite repeated requests from the family to proceed with the burial.

The hospital management allegedly insisted that a RM3,600 bill be settled before any funeral arrangements could be made. - FMT