Dannett Gooden lovingly gazes at her son, Nathaniel. - File

Dannett Gooden, the mother who claims hospital staff caused her baby boy to fall to the floor at birth, is tired of waiting for the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) to complete its investigation into the affair.

Almost three months after the mother's lament was published by The Gleaner, Gooden has not been told if the hospital has found its staff culpable for the incident.

"I was wondering why they don't call me and they are supposed to call me. And they have everything on file," said Gooden.

Gooden gave birth to a boy on November 4 last year at the VJH.

Investigation complete

In an interview yesterday, David Dobson, CEO of the Kingston Public Hospital, told The Gleaner that the investigation into the incident was complete but was unwilling to divulge the findings.

"We have, in fact, completed the investigation. We have escalated it to the higher authority," said Dobson.

When pressed for details, Dobson said he could not discuss the matter "any further at this time".

"I have no doubt the relevant authority will contact the complainant," he said.

Dobson could not say when the investigation was forwarded to the "higher authority".

The mother has initiated the process of filing a lawsuit. Unable to afford the services of a private lawyer, she has sought the assistance of the Office of the Public Defender.

The office confirmed that Gooden made a complaint and said the matter was being examined.

In a Gleaner exclusive last December, Gooden revealed that she delivered the baby standing up. Then the unthinkable happened. The umbilical cord snapped as the baby exited the womb and the child hit the hospital floor.

The mother said the baby's shoulder softened the blow to his head. Gooden, a mother of four, claimed that three nurses were in the delivery room when the incident happened. She further alleged that one of the nurses refused to pick up the newborn.

She also said that one of the nurses told her that she should have caught the baby and not allowed him to hit the floor.