“Still Born” Baby Found Alive

On April 3, a baby girl born three months premature was pronounced still born by hospital staff. The baby was quickly put in a coffin and placed in the morgue’s refrigeration room. The baby’s mother had not been allowed to see her tiny daughter before the baby was whisked away by hospital workers. Twelve hours after the baby was pronounced dead and placed in the refrigeration room, the mother went to say her goodbyes.

When the mother, Analia Bouter, touched her baby girl, she felt a tremble and heard a tiny cry—it was then she realized that her baby was alive. A morgue worker picked up the baby and confirmed she was alive. Bouter’s brother then grabbed the baby and rushed her to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Bouter says she, understandably, has many questions for the hospital. Bouter would like to know why the hospital gave her general anesthesia during this particular birth when she had given birth to four other children without it. Bouter would also like to know why she was not allowed to see the baby before hospital workers put her in the coffin and why she had to insist on vising the refrigeration room to say her last goodbyes.

Five medical professionals involved have been suspended pending an official investigation. As of April 11, the baby was in critical but improving condition. Bouter has named the baby Luz Milagros, “Miracle Light.”

See ‘Miracle’ Morgue Baby Improving In Argentina, The Associated Press, Apr. 11, 2012.