Healthy Newborn Girl Abandoned At Phuket Hospital

[Lite Beer]

Healthy newborn girl abandoned at Phuket Hospital

Phuket Gazette –

Weighing in at nearly 5lbs the healthy baby remains in the care of Thalang Hospital until the mother can be traced.

Anyone with information that may identify or locate the missing mother (pictured) can call Dr Arnon Kaewbumrung on 081-3967875 or Ms Nanthiya Nilphang-nga on 085-8882534. Photo: Thalang Hospital CCTV image

PHUKET: The Phuket Public Heath Office (PPHO) has made a public appeal for any information that may locate a woman who disappeared from Thalang Hospital shortly after giving birth to a baby girl on Friday.

PPHO Deputy Director Dr Wiwat Seetamonotch said that the 32-year-woman presented herself at Thalang Hospital on Thursday.

“She gave her name as Patcharaporn Hawang, but had no personal identification documents with her and only 100 baht in cash. However, as staff could see that she was about to give birth, they took her straight to the delivery room,” said Dr Wiwat.

The mother-to-be told hospital staff that she was originally from Lampang and had lived in Phuket for a while before moving to Krabi after marriage. She said she had argued with her husband and travelled to meet her sister in Phuket. Unfortunately, her sister was not at home.

At 10:30am on Friday, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl weighing 2.7kg (almost 5lbs).

After the birth, mother and baby stayed at the in-patient department’s delivery room until at about 5:30pm. The woman told the patient in the next bed that she was going to wash her clothes.

That was the last time she was seen at the hospital.

“Staff searched the hospital and immediate area, but could not find her, so they reported her as missing to Thalang Police Station,” said Dr Wiwat.

It was about this time that hospital registration staff checked the name she had given against the national identification database. Failing to find a match, authorities now believe she used a false name.

“The infant is very young and needs love and care from her mother, said Dr Wiwat. “So I would like the mother to return to the hospital and stay with her baby.

“If she has difficulty in looking after the baby, the hospital will provide the appropriate support,” he added.

Thalang Hospital Director Arnon Kaewbumrung believes that, as the mother only had 100 baht, she left her baby at the hospital for financial reasons.

“This is the second case in three months of a mother abandoning an infant at our hospital,” he said.

“Anyone with information can call me [Dr Arnon Kaewbumrung] at 081-3967875 or Nurse Nanthiya Nilphang-nga at 085-8882534.”

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2012/Healthy-newborn-girl-abandoned-at-Phuket-Hospital-19234.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-10-22

[EarthAlien]

At least she didn't do anything to harm the child or dispose of it in dupmster as we occasionally hear of such stories.

Hopefully the mother will realize that there are people willing to help her and return to claim the baby.

If not then at least the little girl will get a good chance of a good life under adoptive parents.

[kaspercat]

Sad to see situation like this.

Even more sad for the little baby.

[jsflynn603]

Although not discussed a lot this is a rather common occurrence and the woman should be thought highly of. Going to the hospital and assuming a fake identity is much better than having the baby and throwing it in the dumpster.

During the 1980's in America approximately 100 babies were abandoned each year. Depending on the year ten to thirty-three babies were found dead.

As a result of this, starting with the american state of Texas "safe haven" laws were created and now exist in every state.

These laws allow a person, parent or not to literally "drop off" a baby. Usually it is at a hospital, but in some states can be a church or other facility. No questioning, no calling the police. Drop the baby off and walk away.

It may be hard to fathom but it clearly happens. It could be drug addiction, poverty or the child could be a product of rape. Safe haven laws at least give the baby a chance to live.

[MissChris]

Is anyone likely to start an appeal for the mother? I'm happy to donate. She may just need a start.