CRH says protocols followed in baby death case

Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) says a detailed internal review has found that medical protocols were followed in the case in which baby Ramontay Rakai Ranger died at the facility on Good Friday.

Clinical coordinator, Dr Delroy Fray, told The Gleaner on Thursday that he examined 33-year-old first-time mother Shandale Ballentine’s file alongside the hospital’s chief obstetrician.

He said it confirmed that her pregnancy had been classified as high-risk from the outset and that she received appropriate care.

“We looked through the file to make sure that everything was done according to the book,” he said.

According to Fray, Ballentine was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy, including being admitted at one stage to stabilise her blood pressure.

“When she came to clinic, they admitted her and brought her pressure down… so you see, close monitoring,” he explained.

He added that monitoring continued during labour, with a nurse assigned to her care and doctors reviewing her condition at regular intervals.

“The documentation shows where the doctor came in at intervals,” Fray said, rejecting suggestions that she had been left unattended.

Questions had also been raised about whether a caesarean section should have been performed. However, Fray said clinical indicators did not support that course of action.

“Based on the documentation, there was no indication for a caesarean section,” he stated.

He described the outcome as traumatic for both Ballentine and the medical team.

“You can just imagine it was traumatic, not only for her… but for our staff as well,” he said.

However, Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr Alfred Dawes has called for an immediate, independent investigation, arguing that the hospital’s internal review is insufficient.

In a statement on Thursday, Dawes said the death of the infant should not be treated as an isolated incident.

“This tragedy is the direct consequence of nine years of neglect and a culture of no accountability,” he said.

Dawes also pointed to long-standing issues at Cornwall Regional Hospital, including delays and cost escalations in its renovation, which he said have left the facility compromised.

He is calling for a transparent, independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the death, as well as a broader audit of operations within the Western Regional Health Authority.

“The Jamaican people deserve answers and accountability,” Dawes said.

Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

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