Coroner Orders Inquiry into death of four month old baby

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 02 APRIL 2022: The Coroner, District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papalii has ordered an inquiry into the death of a four month old baby boy who died on the 20 March 2022 as she was not satisfied with the cause of death presented in the medical report.

The Coroner said the inquest will not only investigate the cause of death, but also the procedure that resulted in the release of the infant from the hospital and also the medical assistance given to the infant on admission at the hospital.

The police have been tasked with the investigation and report to the Coroner and the inquest is scheduled for 20 July 2022.

Background to the case
The medical report stated that the infant was admitted to the TTM hospital on 17 March 2022 and released on 19 March 2022.

The infant died on Sunday 20 March 2022.

The country was in total lockdown at the time. However, his parents took him to be buried at their village when they were stopped at a police checkpoint.

Realizing what it was, the police informed their superior who ordered the body to be returned to the hospital morgue.

The Coroner questioned why the infant was released given the high risks and if COVID-19 tests were undertaken on the infant.

No post mortem, body released
After perusing the police and the medical reports, the Coroner ruled against a post mortem on the infant and ordered the release of the body for burial within 24 hours of her ruling. The ruling was delivered on 25 March 2022.

She gave two reasons for her decisions and one was that the deceased was an infant and it was impossible for a post mortem to be conducted as there was no pathologist on island.

The other reason was based on the concerns raised by the Chinese pathologist team that conducted post mortems last year.

“If the death was likely to be COVID-19 related, a post mortem cannot be ordered at this stage given the observation of the Chinese team of pathologists who conducted post mortems in 2021, on the condition of the operating room and health and safety concerns.

Medical profession put on notice
The Coroner ordered a full report from Dr. Kamu, the Head of the Paediatric ward, however the report included what the Coroner interpreted as a complaint against the police.

The doctor also questioned the discharging of police duties and how information should be relayed to the Coroner accurately to avoid confusion.

He also mentioned that the infant’s cause of death was known.

Police informed the Coroner that they had to ask twice for the report.

The Coroner spelled out in her ruling that when an order is made, it is made independently and in her statutory function as a Coroner.

She also pointed out that when an order is made to whoever and to anyone including the medical practitioners, nurses and police, it must be complied with, and failure to comply is an offence that could land anyone to 6 months imprisonment or a $1000 fine.

“As it is a Court order/directive, it is coercive in nature and it therefore attracts the law of contempt of court,” said the Coroner.