Parents Seek Legal Advice After Needle Discovered in Newborn’s Foot Post-Discharge

Published August 3, 2025, 2:02 PM

Parents Seek Legal Advice After Needle Discovered in Newborn's Foot Post-Discharge

A couple in Antigua and Barbuda is consulting with an attorney following a shocking incident in which a needle was left embedded in the leg of their newborn baby.

The infant, born just days earlier, was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center for observation due to jaundice and reported dehydration.

After receiving treatment, the baby was discharged yesterday; however, the parents noted that the baby exhibited unusual irritability and excessive crying, which they attributed to typical newborn behavior.

It was only about 24 hours after returning home that the parents discovered the horrifying oversight.

While removing the baby’s diaper, they noticed that a needle and applicator were still protruding from the baby’s foot, having been overlooked during the hospital’s discharge process.

The parents had kept the baby’s sock on and did not immediately remove it upon bringing him home.

Acknowledging the incident as a significant error on the part of the medical professionals, the family is now seeking legal counsel to address the situation. They expressed their hope that such incidents could be prevented in the future, stating, “We don’t want this to happen to another baby”.

This story was first published by Antigua News on August 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM (Antigua time, UTC−4): antigua.news/2025/08/03/parents-seek-legal-advice-after-needle-discovered-in-newborns-foot-post-discharge. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (21)

Tanya August 3, 2025, 2:08 PM

So it took the parents 24 hours to bathe or undress their newborn? That’s so irresponsible and stupid. You didn’t clean your newborn immediately after leaving the hospital? Health facilities are packed with GERMS!!!Just take that baby back to the NICU so the people who actually cared and looked after that child can help.
Reply
- Must be trolling… August 3, 2025, 2:33 PM
  
  Congratulations! You win dumbest comment of the year.
  Reply
- Anonymous August 3, 2025, 3:08 PM
  
  Shhhhhhhhh
  Reply
- Rhea August 3, 2025, 3:12 PM
  
  Dear idiot, If they did care, the needle wouldn’t have remained in the child’s foot. Now let’s move on to better things. I don’t think Antigua.news want argument under their post.
  Reply
- Anonymous August 3, 2025, 10:44 PM
  
  Amen
  Reply
Lucky Dubie August 3, 2025, 2:14 PM

Whether they bathe the baby 24 or 72 hours after bringing him home, let’s not overlook the negligence of the health care professionals here. In other countries this cannot fly, why must we turn a blind eye and accept it here in Antigua. Come on now…..we must do better and accept better.
Reply
- Move On August 4, 2025, 8:14 AM
  
  It is negligence but it is not criminal negligence as no harm or injury was caused. A mistake was made which could and does happen all over the world including the U.S. and would not amount to anything other than an apology being given to the parents. This is a mole hill not a mountain. Nothing to see, move on. Hospital, do better.
  Reply
Tamia August 3, 2025, 2:23 PM

The parents did change the cloths and diapers but did not remove the socks.
Reply
Mel August 3, 2025, 2:56 PM

Who put the socks unto the child?
A parent?
B medical staff? There is such a thing as contributory negligence. 24 hours is a lot of time under the circumstances. A needle is obvious even with socks on Don’t be to quick to point fingers remember there are four pointing back and the new born may have reason to return to the medical facility in the future.
Reply
Antigua Surf August 3, 2025, 3:17 PM

Not surprised. We speak of the SIR LESTER BIRD MEDICAL CENTER. They aren’t good for nothing but negligence and bs. I don’t know how these are people who went to school to study health care.
Reply
Devorn Carter August 3, 2025, 3:23 PM

These “HeAlTh CaRe PrOfFeSsIoNaLs” are the sickening bone of every patient! All they do is talk and be on phones and not even study the patient. What of this affects the baby more? Ridiculous
Reply
Esther August 3, 2025, 3:25 PM

Lemme ask a question! The needle wasn’t pointing out in the sock? Okay next, your child leave from the hospital and not change the babies clothes? Hmmmm, I guess the nurses aren’t the only ones showing negligence here.
Reply
Gerber August 3, 2025, 4:11 PM

Let’s all be glad the baby is ALIVE and well. Yes the needle was in the foot, OBVIOUSLY for a legit reason. Negligence is all over, let them know and move on with ya healthy and happy child. Yall have no idea what stress the “health care pros” are under!!!!
Reply
Anonymous August 3, 2025, 4:43 PM

There is a big difference with a needle and an intricate 1: Anita is used with syringe for various reasons
2: A intricate is used to give medication blood, and IV fluid for hydration and other stuff.
It is the norm for an IV access/ intricate to be inserted in every patient that is admitted at the hospital. It doesn’t matter what unit you are on from the ER to INCU however upon discharge that same access MUST be taken out unfortunately it didn’t. So we now need to file a lawsuit for an IV access? This was just an oversight nothing detrimental on the medical professional part This is a genuine oversight for the access not to be taken out upon discharge…… I would like to know if the parent that are Going for lawsuit for the I.V access being left in the child if they had never made any mistake in their life, and this mistake by the medical professional is nothing to cause life It was placed there to sustain the life of the child and to medicate, and to ensure the child was being treated based on the diagnosis of same child… We are so quick to be judgmental and look down on others you’re talking about if it was America, if it was America, the hospital would be fully staff and that child would have a nurse for him or herself, and they would have ensured everything goes by the books and there would not be a misteak.
Reply
- Anonymous August 3, 2025, 4:44 PM
  
  Sorry NICU
  Reply
AM August 3, 2025, 5:59 PM

you call yourselves parents?
I pity that child being saddled with your incompetence for life
Reply
Anonymous August 3, 2025, 6:27 PM

That’s not even a needle. It’s an introcat! It’s plastic. It was just an oversight on both parties. Didn’t need a big show. Move on!
Reply
- Anonymous August 3, 2025, 7:37 PM
  
  Exactly
  Reply
- Anonymous August 4, 2025, 6:46 AM
  
  I find it was negligence but people do make mistakes buttttt when that child reach home he or she should have a bath and well clean up eeww I wonder if that child mother is young to ????
  Reply
Apex Jones August 3, 2025, 8:41 PM

OMGGHHH talk about carelessness and negligence. Wowwww. I don’t even know what to say
Reply
Informed citizen August 3, 2025, 9:14 PM

Pure negligence
Reply

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Parents Seek Legal Advice After Needle Discovered in Newborn’s Foot Post-Discharge

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