Let’s be clear: these injuries can and do happen to pre-term babies. We don’t know if any malicious hospital staffer is committing what would be psychopathic behavior against these babies. Still, one Virginia hospital is shutting down any further admissions to its neonatal intensive care unit until this matter is resolved.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, saw an unusually high number of fractures among its pre-term babies in the ward. The hospital shut down the NICU out of caution until a full investigation is conducted. The administration wants to know what’s going on, whether it be improvements to safety or any further training. It’s also not the first time this hospital has seen issues with baby fractures in its NICU (via NY Post):
A hospital in Virginia shut down its neonatal intensive care unit after three pre-term babies were found with “unexplainable fractures” – more than a year after several newborns suffered similar injuries.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond paused all admissions to its NICU and initiated an internal investigation after medical officials made the disturbing discovery in late November and December.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are not admitting any additional babies into our NICU at this time,” the hospital said in a statement on its website, adding that it informed families, authorities and regulatory agencies of their findings.
“While fractures occasionally happen with pre-term babies since they lack full fetal bone development, we are actively working to determine how these fractures occurred.”
The medical center said the injuries shared similarities to an incident involving four babies last summer, explaining that they are taking immediate steps to enhance safety measures in the hospital wing.
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The Virginia Department of Health, along with state police, is also probing the unsettling situation, according to Fox Richmond.
Henrico police said no charges have been filed.
The hospital warned that this review would be time-consuming, as local police would also review all records, along with the Virginia State Police, Health Department, and the Attorney General’s Office.
