KHMH faces potential lawsuit following a grave error at the morgue
by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 13, 2023
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) finds itself in the midst of a storm, under investigation following a critical mistake at its morgue. In a horrifying mishap, a grieving mother discovered that her deceased newborn had been mistakenly given to the wrong family, who had unknowingly cremated the child, believing it to be their own.
This distressing incident has provoked a serious backlash against the KHMH, raising questions about its procedures and sparking concerns about a possible lawsuit against the hospital.
Nahomy Guerrero, who had recently given birth, arrived at the KHMH morgue to collect her deceased baby, Aaron Allen, for his burial.
However, to her utter shock and despair, she was informed that her baby’s body had been handed over to a different family. The other grieving family, unaware of the mix-up, had proceeded with the cremation, under the impression that they were laying their own child to rest.
Guerrero, still mourning the loss of her newborn, expressed to local media her disbelief and heartbreak, stating, “My baby had a name tag on him. How could they lose him and give him to another funeral home that was not supposed to cremate him?”
This tragic incident, however, was not the first issue Guerrero faced at KHMH. She was brought to the hospital with heavy bleeding while 34 weeks into her pregnancy.
Despite her condition, she was met with indifference from the hospital staff who dismissed her concern, allegedly because she hadn’t arrived the night she first noticed bleeding. Guerrero says she was also told that her ultrasound, which she needed to ensure the well-being of her baby, was no longer an emergency, and that the cost would have to be paid for upfront.
The ultrasound revealed a serious condition, retroplacental hematoma, which required an emergency C-section.
The series of unfortunate events culminated in the untimely death of Guerrero’s baby, who passed away just a day after his birth in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The sudden and unexpected death of her child, coupled with the devastating mix-up at the morgue, has plunged Guerrero into a state of profound grief and anger.
Questions are now being raised about the hospital’s procedures and protocols. How was it possible for such a crucial mistake to happen? Shouldn’t there be a rigorous verification process in place to prevent such errors?
Family and friends have gathered to advocate for Guerrero, believing that what was done was out of pure negligence and incompetence in identifying a body, and that the mistake has intensified the physical and emotional pain she experienced on her journey.
The grieving family, still coming to terms with their loss, is reportedly considering legal action against the KHMH. Nazira Miles, their legal counsel, would represent them in this potential lawsuit.
As the investigation progresses, we reached out to the CEO of KHMH, Chandra Cansino, for comment on such a serious situation, but were unable to reach her. However, in an interview with other local media houses, she acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and assured that it was under thorough investigation.
With the hospital yet to accept its fault, and Guerrero and her family possibly preparing to pursue legal action, this incident has plunged KHMH into a sea of questions about its credibility and accountability, cementing a reputation the national hospital’s detractors have been expressing for years.
Meanwhile, Nahomy Guerrero is left struggling with an unimaginable loss and a whirlwind of questions about the gross negligence that brought further hurt to her tragic situation.