Newborn acquired infection after being fed stranger's breast milk in Toronto NICU
CTV
While under neonatal intensive care last summer, an Ontario family's premature baby suffered low oxygen levels and acquired an infection after being fed a stranger's breast milk — but, ultimately, it was a lack of communication from the Toronto area hospitals' staff that has "forever shattered" the family's trust, they say.
Over the course of her weeks-long admission to neonatal intensive care units last summer, an Ontario family's premature baby suffered low oxygen levels and acquired an infection after being fed a stranger's breast milk — but her family says, ultimately, it was a lack of communication from the Toronto area hospitals' staff that has "forever shattered" their trust.
Mississauga resident Gabriele Forneris’ daughter, who CTV News Toronto has agreed not to name, was born prematurely, weighing under 2 lbs, at Trillium Hospital on May 10, 2022.
Following her birth she struggled to breathe and required intubation but at some point the tube dislodged, resulting in her oxygen levels dipping down to below the recommended levels, according to medical records reviewed by CTV News Toronto. By July, the infant’s condition had improved and she was moved to St. Joseph’s Health Centre for further treatment. That’s where she was given the wrong mother's breast milk, according to the records.
While the two incidents were “traumatizing” for the Forneris family, they say it was a lack of communication from the staff at both hospitals surrounding their baby’s care that disintegrated their trust in the system -- Forneris said he and his wife were not informed of the full extent of the alleged errors while their daughter was admitted to hospital. Instead, they said they were only able to paint a full picture of the experience after requesting the medical records themselves this spring, nearly a year later.
“At the end of the day, you’re supposed to trust doctors and that’s what we did,” Forneris said. “I never want to go to a hospital again, and we certainly can never have another baby. How could we?”
When reached for comment, Trillium Hospital, where Forneris’ daughter was born and intubated, said it could not comment on patient information, but that, in cases like this, it works extensively with families “to listen to and understand their concerns, apologize for their experience and take the appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of those in our care.”
St. Joseph’s Health Centre, where the infant was fed infected breast milk, apologized for the error in a statement to CTV News Toronto and said it has “taken action to learn from this experience and review processes.”
