A Mississauga couple is still searching for answers a year after their newborn daughter received the incorrect breast milk while in the neonatal intensive care unit at a Toronto hospital. Gabriele Forneris, the father, expressed his frustration, questioning the safety of the system that allowed this mistake to occur. Their daughter, who was born prematurely weighing only 770 grams on May 22, 2022, was transferred to Sunnybrook Hospital and then to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto on June 17. To protect the family’s privacy, Global News has chosen not to disclose the girl’s name or her mother’s name.
On July 1, Forneris visited his daughter at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and discovered an empty bottle of breast milk in the room. The label on the bottle had a different name, raising concerns regarding the milk his wife and daughter were receiving. When Forneris questioned the nurse, she initially denied the mistake but later admitted to it. She said, “I made a terrible mistake.” Despite reassurances from the hospital that their daughter’s health was not compromised, on July 3, the baby girl tested positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that can spread through bodily fluids, including breast milk.
Though it cannot be definitively proven, the timing suggests that the baby contracted the virus from consuming the wrong milk. CMV can potentially lead to hearing loss and developmental delays in infants, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some infants may also experience vision problems. Forneris and his wife are understandably worried about the long-term effects of the virus. St. Joseph’s Health Centre later acknowledged the mistake in a letter to the couple and apologized for the negative experience they had.
The family is requesting concrete assurances that St. Joseph’s Health Centre will improve its breast milk handling procedures. They are not seeking monetary damages but want to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future to ensure the safety of other babies. Paul Harte, a medical malpractice lawyer, emphasizes the importance of providing clear explanations to patients to prevent complaints and lawsuits. He also points out that hospitals face challenges in achieving accountability, as there is no effective oversight body specifically dedicated to hospitals like there is for doctors and nurses. Harte suggests that using bar codes to label milk containers could reduce the likelihood of mix-ups.
In conclusion, this Mississauga couple’s quest for answers continues a year after their daughter received the wrong breast milk at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. They want assurance that the hospital will improve its practices to prevent similar incidents in the future. The family is not seeking monetary compensation but instead aims to protect other infants from experiencing the same mistake.
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