An Israeli Health Ministry investigative committee has identified a series of serious medical and communication failures in the treatment of a four-day-old baby who died at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak in November 2022 after developing a severe infection.
According to the recently released report, which was publicized by Israel Hayom, the newborn was transferred to the hospital’s nursery immediately following his birth. Over the ensuing days, a number of signs indicating that his condition was deteriorating were documented, including pain, an elevated heart rate, high fever, crying and paleness.
The committee determined that the medical team failed to diagnose the baby’s infection in a timely manner. It further concluded that, with a high degree of probability, administering antibiotics earlier could have changed the outcome.
The investigation found that the resident physician treating the newborn lacked sufficient skill in handling the situation and failed to pass critical information along to the physician taking over the next shift, who did not come to examine the baby. The senior physician who was on call was also not notified promptly. That doctor acknowledged that he should have been informed earlier and that doing so might have altered the course of events.
Investigators also identified shortcomings in the conduct of the nursing staff. According to the report, the nurses did not insist that a physician come examine the baby despite his condition. The committee found that greater intervention by the nurses could have resulted in the newborn being transferred for monitoring or to the neonatal intensive care unit considerably earlier.
The baby’s parents told investigators that they repeatedly warned hospital personnel that something appeared to be wrong with their son but felt that their concerns were being dismissed.
“Instead of feeling that they were listening to us, we were left with the feeling that our words were being dismissed,” the parents said.
The committee also cited failures in communication among the physicians on duty, nursing personnel and the senior doctor. In addition, investigators found that after the baby’s death, hospital personnel did not hold a comprehensive and organized discussion with the parents explaining what had occurred.
The parents filed a lawsuit in January 2024 in the Central District Court against Mayanei Hayeshua and the head of the hospital’s premature infant and neonatal division.
The hospital has denied the allegations. In its defense filing, Mayanei Hayeshua maintained that the newborn received care that was “flawless and with reasonable skill,” and argued that his deterioration could not have been prevented even with antibiotic treatment.
The lawsuit remains pending.
{Matzav.com}
