Parents to sue hospital for missing baby

Suherdjoko ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Semarang   |  Tue, 11/03/2009 1:06 PM  |  The Archipelago

A couple is set to sue Semarang General Hospital after their newborn was kidnapped by an unidentified woman in the hospital.

Mohammad Yahron, the baby's father, said they would file civil and criminal lawsuits against the hospital since it showed no signs of responsibility concerning their baby.

"The hospital seemed to wash their hands by saying that the kidnapping was just an accident. I have frequently met with the hospital head, but she has yet to give me a satisfactory response. The hospital will only waive part of the hospital bill."

He said the hospital would cover seven days of medical treatment while state security insurance firm PT Jamsostek would cover five days.

The then two-day-old baby of Yahron and his wife Dwi Setyowati went missing Thursday.

The baby who was delivered via cesarean section, was being bathed by a nurse, Milla Nourbaita. She then returned the baby to the nursery, where it was cuddled by nursing student Eka Laiyanatus Sifah, who was on an internship program.

A woman then approached the student and introduced herself as the relative of the baby's mother.

The woman asked the student if she could cuddle the baby, and apparently made off with it.

Although their baby has not been found yet, Yahron and his wife, residents of Bosari village, Guntur district, Demak regency, Central Java, decided to leave the hospital.

"If I stay here, I cannot go to work," Yahron said.

Yahron's lawyer Suwondo said the criminal lawsuit, which the police would handle, would be filed before the civil one.

Suwondo said his client has not decided on the amount of compensation in the file lawsuit.

"I will consult with my client."

The hospital's director Niken Widyah Hastuti refused to comment, saying that the case was being handled by the Semarang administration public relations office.

The Semarang Health Agency head, Tatik Suyarti said the hospital and the administration had decided to delegate the case the police.

The police said they were still searching for the baby and the kidnapper. Based on witnesses' testimonies, the police have commissioned an artist's impression of the woman, and are also offering a prize of Rp 25 million (US$2,500) for those who could find the baby.

The Women and Children's Care Network (JPPA) criticized the hospital for its failure to protect the baby.

"The hospital should protect every patient. It's sad that a baby was kidnapped from a government institution, which should have been able to protect it since they have equipment and regulations," JPPA coordinator Agnes Widanti said Monday.

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