The autopsy scheduled to be done on baby Asia Marie, who died in her mother’s womb with faeces in her mouth on Monday, was yesterday halted by her parents after the child’s body was taken to another hospital without their knowledge.
Asia Marie died at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital after her mother, Chelsea Robinson, spent hours begging medical staff to deliver the baby after experiencing excruciating pain during labour that lasted over 48 hours. The 19-year-old first-time mother has since been discharged from the hospital and is at home recovering from her tragic delivery.
Relatives were told two family members would be allowed to view the autopsy and were advised to be at the hospital early yesterday. At around 6 am, Asia Marie’s father, Brian Small, and another relative arrived at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex’s mortuary to view the post-mortem on his daughter’s body.
However, hospital staff told him they had no documents or files for the child. After a few queries, Small was told that Asia Marie’s body had been sent to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. “I got really upset. How can you tell us to come, that we could view her body and then tell us you sent her body to Port-of-Spain, without letting anyone know?” he said.
He said he was shown a document signed by Robinson giving consent for Asia Marie’s autopsy to be done elsewhere but was critical of the medical staff’s process. He said Robinson was given a paper and told to sign ten minutes after delivery although she was still feeling the effects of the anaesthetic and was delirious and crying.
Small said he made his way to the Port-of-Spain general hospital but was told the body had been returned to Mt Hope. On the advice of his lawyer, he prepared a letter stopping the autopsy until the assurance was given that relatives could be present.
Small, who works in a private hospital, said the behaviour of medical staff when it came to answering questions had been a source of concern to the family, raising further distrust.
The young woman continues to cry for her daughter at home and family members are trying to shield her from the public attention, he said. Relatives expect the autopsy to take place within the next three days. During an interview on the CNC3 Morning Brew yesterday, Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh raised concerns about the health of the mother prior to delivery.
Deyalsingh, who was faced with a maternal death during his first week in office, boasted that since he assumed office a mere two months ago no maternal deaths could be attributed to negligence.