Parents lodge complaint with MOH about 'bruises' on newborn's face, KKH says marks 'superficial'
A baby was delivered at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) with marks on his face, causing concern for the parents who lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Stomper Chua, who is the father, was dissatified with the hospital's response and alleged negligence.
The delivery had taken place on May 28.
"Shortly after birth, a nurse noted red marks on the baby's face, which by evening had turned into bruises," recounted the Stomper.
"During feeding, the baby vomited with traces of blood. The next day, a doctor conducted a routine check but did not examine the bruises, only stating they would fade in two to three days.
"Multiple attempts by the family to seek clarification from hospital staff and official hotlines were met with deflection. No doctor proactively explained the incident. By the time of discharge, no substantive response had been given.
"As parents, we cannot accept this. Why did our baby sustain severe facial bruising? Were proper procedures followed?"
The Stomper said that despite repeated attempts to contact MOH, he had not received a response for two months.
He added: "We just want the truth, assurance of our child's safety, and to prevent others from facing the same pain."
In response to a Stomp query, Associate Professor Suzanna Sulaiman, Head and Senior Consultant of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KKH, said: "We acknowledge the concerns raised by Mr Chua and have been actively engaging him with regard to the care provided during the delivery of his baby on May 28.
"We understand that Mr Chua is concerned about the temporary marks on his baby's face following the delivery, and we empathise with how distressing this experience has been for him and his family."
The doctor assured the Stomper that appropriate care was provided throughout the delivery process and strict clinical standards were adhered to.
She explained that the use of forceps is an internationally recognised and established practice in deliveries, including Caesarean sections.
Forceps may be used to assist with the birth if there is a risk of a delayed delivery which could result in reduced oxygen supply to the baby, that may lead to serious complications such as brain injury or cerebral palsy.
Medical teams carefully evaluate these risks before deploying the use of forceps to facilitate a safe delivery. In some cases, the baby may experience temporary marks.
The doctor said: "After delivery, the marks on Mr Chua's baby were observed to be superficial during the hospital stay. The team monitored these marks daily and regularly engaged with Mrs Chua during this period to address her concerns and provide assurances.
"During an unrelated subsequent hospital admission a few days later, the team explained that the marks will take time to heal, and they were observed to be fading. At another visit one month later, the marks were noted to have been fully resolved."
The doctor added: "We regret that the explanations and assurances did not meet the family's expectations.
"We would like to emphasise that the assisted delivery was necessary to ensure the safety of the mother and baby. We remain committed to supporting Mr Chua and his family and addressing any further concerns they may have."
In a photos posted on social media by the Stomper on June 29, there were no marks or bruises on the baby's face.
