Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

The Jamaican Consulate in the Cayman Islands has launched an investigation into the circumstances under which a 19-year-old Jamaican woman gave birth to her pre-mature baby on a Cayman Airways flight on October 2.

Robert Hamaty, Jamaican consul for the Cayman Islands said the investigation hopes to determine the motive behind the doctor's decision to send Shellesha Woodstock on a flight to Jamaica after she had already gone into labour.

"The consul is conducting an investigation on behalf of the parents who sent a report to our offices in Grand Cayman," Mr. Hamaty told The Gleaner yesterday. "She is a Jamaican national and so we are obliged to assist her," he added.

Necessary to investigate

The consul further stated in a press release that it is "deeply concerned about the decision taken by the Health Services Authority to authorise Ms. Woodstock to travel on a commercial flight while she was in labour." The consul also said that based on Ms. Woodstock's denial of asking for a doctor's referral after going into labour, as previously stated by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, it is necessary to investigate the circumstances. Mr. Hamaty said that the primary concern during the investigation is the welfare of the mother and child.

"The couple has said that they are now weighing their options," he told The Gleaner. "They will decide whether they want to take legal action in the future".

The 19-year-old mother said she was refused care at the Cayman Islands Hospital where she had gone for medical assistance after going into premature labour on October 1. The Health Services Authority in the Cayman Islands has however, denied Ms. Woodstock's allegations, claiming that she had failed to travel on the date stipulated by the referral letter.

The Gleaner was able to locate a copy of the letter given to the Jamaican woman by the obstetrician, however, the document, dated October 1, did not specify on what date she should travel and when it would become unsafe for Ms. Woodstock to travel on an aeroplane. It simply read: "This is to certify that Ms. Shellesha Woodstock is pregnant and has been under our care. She is 29 weeks two days pregnant and in good physical condition. She is in a fit state to travel by air."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jamaica said it has been in contact with the Jamaican Consulate in the Cayman Islands and said it will be closely tracking the outcome of the consul's investigation.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com