The Ministry of Health has opened an investigation on Thursday, November 30, to look into the claim that the wrong body of a newborn baby was mistakenly handed over to the wrong parents.

The incident took place at Al Bashir Hospital in Amman, where the said parents were reportedly given the body of a baby girl, instead of a baby boy.

Mahmoud Zreikat, Director General of al-Bashir, explained that on November 26, the mother had a premature birth, and her baby, who weighed 1,000 grams, was immediately placed in an incubator at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Zreikat said that the baby died soon after due to complications in its breathing, because of the incomplete development of its lungs in the womb.

After being examined by a forensic doctor, the parents were given the body of a baby that wasn’t theirs.

The Director said that DNA samples have been taken from the baby and its parents to see if they can find a match, while confirming that the staff involved in their case are currently being investigated.

Premature birth

Photo source: Mayo Clinic