TAIF — A private hospital in Taif is facing closure after its doctors pronounced a baby dead. The baby, in fact, remained alive several hours after the death declaration. The baby boy and his twin sister were buried at Al-Abbas Graveyard in Taif after funeral prayer at Abdullah Bin Abbas Mosque. At the same time, health authorities have continued their investigation of the case, which has drawn public anger. The spokesman said Health Director Saleh Al-Moonis has instructed the investigating committee to visit the private hospital and review its condition. The family of the twins has urged authorities to take punitive action against the hospital for its flagrant negligence as it did not try to save the life of a baby which lived for five hours after the hospital declared it dead. Hamoud Al-Harthi, a relative of the boy named Salman, said the boy was buried near his sister. He urged the Heath Department in Taif to complete its investigation quickly to publish the result. He feared the investigation would take several weeks to complete. The department has not yet taken any action against the private hospital. People believe that its doctors' sheer negligence lead to the twins' death. Abdul Hadi Al-Rabiee, spokesman of the health department in Taif, said the investigation committee has instructed authorities to prevent the doctors involved from traveling abroad. "The ban will continue until the investigation results are out," he said. According to the department, the baby arrived at the Children's Hospital in Taif at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday. The hospital's emergency section found the baby's BP was weak. The medical team at the hospital tried its best to save the baby but it breathed its last 7.15 p.m. and its death was officially declared. The 20-week pregnant mother of the twins was brought to the hospital on Saturday morning with labor pains. She aborted two fetuses at 3.50 p.m. The case was taken up by a consultant gynecologist on duty, the department said. After delivery it appeared to doctors that the twins were born without any signs of life. A pediatrician was called in after 40 minutes who also confirmed the babies were not alive. The hospital then handed over the twins for burial. While washing the body, it was found that the heart of the baby boy was beating. Red Crescent volunteers were called to transport the baby to the Children's Hospital where doctors attempted to save its life.
