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Family seeking baby brain answers Family seeking baby brain answers
(about 3 hours later)
The family of a deceased baby boy have complained that his body was released for burial with his brain missing.The family of a deceased baby boy have complained that his body was released for burial with his brain missing.
Six-month-old Andrew Sutherland's grandfather John said Raigmore Hospital in Inverness asked to do more tests on his body to rectify the mistake.Six-month-old Andrew Sutherland's grandfather John said Raigmore Hospital in Inverness asked to do more tests on his body to rectify the mistake.
Andrew died of septicaemia two weeks ago and a post-mortem examination was carried out, said Mr Sutherland. Andrew died of septicaemia two weeks ago and a post-mortem examination was carried out, Mr Sutherland said.
NHS Highland said Raigmore Hospital could not comment on the matter due to confidentiality issues. NHS Highland apologised for the distress caused and said changes to the system had now been made.
Mr Sutherland said the boy's body was released to the family and moved to a funeral home in Inverness. It said it was normal practice in an autopsy to remove the brain in order to establish the cause of an unexpected sudden death.
However, he said Raigmore did not tell them Andrew's brain was missing. Mr Sutherland said his grandson's body was released to the family and moved to a funeral home in Inverness.
Professional procedures I would like to apologise on behalf of Raigmore Hospital for the additional distress that this unfortunate incident has caused the family Roger GibbinsNHS Highland
Mr Sutherland said he took a call from the hospital saying that it wanted the body taken back in so that a further test could be carried out. However, he said Raigmore did not tell them the baby's brain was missing.
That request was refused and Mr Sutherland said it did not emerge until after the baby was buried that his brain had been put back into the body by hospital staff at the funeral home. In a statement on Tuesday, the healthcare provider said: "Once a cause of death was confirmed it was agreed by the procurator fiscal that a provisional death certificate could be issued in order to allow the family to proceed with their funeral arrangements.
He told BBC Scotland he understood the hospital had to do a post-mortem and had professional procedures to follow. "The procurator fiscal subsequently informed the undertaker and the hospital that the body could be released.
However, Mr Sutherland added: "I just want an answer to why this happened. I know they've got a job to do - I just want them to be straight with me." "Unfortunately, due to a breakdown in communication in the mortuary it was not immediately recognised that the baby's brain had not been replaced, and it was thought that the body was ready to return to the family."
NHS Highland said that when the error was realised, two hours after the body was released, the hospital asked the undertaker to return the dead baby so the brain could be replaced.
System changes
However, that was not possible at the time.
The family was informed the following day by the hospital and the proceedure to replace the brain was carried out at the undertaker later that day.
Mr Sutherland told BBC Scotland he understood the hospital had to do a post-mortem and had professional procedures to follow.
However, he added: "I just want an answer to why this happened. I know they've got a job to do - I just want them to be straight with me."
NHS Highland said an investigation had been carried out and had resulted in changes in the systems which would prevent such a situation happening again.
Roger Gibbins, chief executive of NHS Highland, said: "I would like to apologise on behalf of Raigmore Hospital for the additional distress that this unfortunate incident has caused the family.
"We have written today to invite the family to come in to discuss in detail the sequence of events.
"We hope to be able to reassure them that we have taken measures to ensure that this does not happen again in the future."