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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Family seeking baby brain answers | Family seeking baby brain answers |
| (about 13 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, Mr Sutherland said. | Andrew died of septicaemia two weeks ago and a post-mortem examination was carried out, Mr Sutherland said. |
| NHS Highland apologised for the distress caused and said changes to the system had now been made. | NHS Highland apologised for the distress caused and said changes to the system had now been made. |
| It said it was normal practice in an autopsy to remove the brain in order to establish the cause of an unexpected sudden death. | It said it was normal practice in an autopsy to remove the brain in order to establish the cause of an unexpected sudden death. |
| Mr Sutherland said his grandson's body was released to the family and moved to a funeral home in Inverness. | Mr Sutherland said his grandson's body was released to the family and moved to a funeral home in Inverness. |
| 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 | 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 |
| However, he said Raigmore did not tell them the baby's brain was missing. | However, he said Raigmore did not tell them the baby's brain was missing. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The procurator fiscal subsequently informed the undertaker and the hospital that the body could be released. | "The procurator fiscal subsequently informed the undertaker and the hospital that the body could be released. |
| "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." | "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. | 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 | System changes |
| However, that was not possible at the time. | However, that was not possible at the time. |
| The family was informed the following day by the hospital and the procedure to replace the brain was carried out at the undertakers later that day. | |
| Mr Sutherland told BBC Scotland he understood the hospital had to do a post-mortem and had professional procedures to follow. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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 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." | "We hope to be able to reassure them that we have taken measures to ensure that this does not happen again in the future." |