Cover-up of infant's death

Police should confirm medical malpractice allegation

It is hard to believe one of the nation's leading hospitals allegedly covered up the death of a premature baby, who reportedly died of a skull fracture after a resident slipped and dropped the infant on the floor in August 2016.

More surprising is the allegation that the CHA Bundang Medical Center told the parents their baby had died of illness and no autopsy was performed before the newborn was cremated with their consent.

The hospital claimed the baby died of complications from multiple diseases, not from the fall. Yet one cannot help but question such a claim; therefore, the relevant authorities should determine what exactly caused the infant's death. It is also necessary to find out who was responsible for the mishap and the cover-up attempt. Police should conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the case and confirm the medical malpractice allegation.

On the basis of their initial probe, police have requested arrest warrants for two doctors at the hospital and booked seven others on suspicion of doctoring evidence and issuing a false conclusion about the baby's death. The resident was also booked on charges of involuntary manslaughter. The hospital said it relieved the baby's doctor and the deputy head of the center of their posts.

In fact, the suspected cover-up attempt might have been concealed for good without a tip the police received seven months ago. Investigators obtained medical records and appraisals indicating a skull fracture and intracranial-bleeding may have caused the infant's death.

The health authorities should make every effort to prevent hospitals from amending or erasing medical records randomly ― probably in their favor to conceal medical malpractice. It is urgent to establish a system allowing patients and their family members easier access to such records.

The government must ensure that people can receive medical treatment without any fear of malpractice. Otherwise, the public's distrust of doctors and hospitals will only run deeper.