Police stop infants’ burial – Coroner orders full medical report

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 22 MARCH 2022: The Coroner, District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosela Papalii has ordered a full medical report on the cause of death of a four month old infant who was hospitalized last week for pneumonia.

The order includes detailed information of the child and diagnostic report of her illness and whether it was related to COVID-19.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said a post mortem on the child will depend on the medical report.

“If the Coroner doubts the medical report then a post mortem will be carried out to determine the actual cause of the child’s death,” he said.

The four month old baby was hospitalised for pneumonia last week but the parents wanted to find a traditional cure for the child and they signed a consent document with the doctor to allow the release of their baby last Saturday.

Unfortunately, the child passed away Sunday.

The parents who are live-in students at one of the theological schools, took the child to be buried at a family home and were stopped and questioned at a police Covid checkpoint along the way.

Realising the case, one of the officers called Auapaau who ordered the body be returned to the hospital and for the police to investigate.