Indonesian family takes legal action against clinic following premature baby’s death

WEST JAVA, INDONESIA: Social media is abuzz with shock and outrage over the alleged abandonment and inadequate care of a premature baby at a clinic.

The tragic incident unfolded in the Bungursari District of Tasikmalaya City, where a newborn passed away after birth.

The family of the infant, Erlangga Surya (23) and Nisa Armila (23), residents of Leuwimalang, Sukamulya Village, filed a complaint against the birthing clinic, suspecting malpractice as the cause of their baby’s death.

The distressing account of the premature baby’s demise gained widespread attention on social media platforms.

The infant’s tragic fate came to light when it was revealed that the baby had been used as content for a newborn photoshoot at the Tasikmalaya clinic in West Java.

The premature baby, weighing only 1.5 kg, succumbed to its fragile condition, sparking a public outcry.

The heartbreaking story was brought to public attention through the Instagram account “nadiaanastasyasilvera”, the older sister of the baby’s father.

In her Instagram posts on Saturday (18 Nov), Nadia expressed her grievance, condemning the unauthorized use of the infant’s image for social media content.

She emphasized the ethical responsibility of the clinic, stating, “This should be a baby in an incubator and given intensive care, instead you are making reviews and content. Where is your conscience? This is a human, not an animal!”

(Photo: Nadia’s Instagram)

Premature babies, born at 37 weeks or less, typically require specialized care in an incubator for several days.

Unfortunately, Erlangga Surya Pamungkas and Nisa Armila were reportedly sent home without clarity on the well-being of their newborn, who had a birth weight of 1.7 kg.

In response to the devastating loss, Erlangga Surya Pamungkas penned a letter to the Head of the Tasikmalaya City Health Service, detailing the chronology of events and the clinical treatment received by his wife and child.

Nadia shared Erlangga’s letter via her Instagram account, further amplifying the family’s plea for justice and shedding light on the alleged negligence at the birthing clinic.

The baby’s father wrote to the Head of Tasikmalaya City Health Service, outlining the sequence of events and the medical care his wife and child received

Erlangga’s letter to the Head of Tasikmalaya City Health Service (Photo: Nadia’s Instagram)

Erlangga recounted the troubling experience at Alifa Clinic, stating that his wife, Nisa, visited the clinic on Monday (13 Nov) at around 4:00 p.m., accompanied by her older sibling.

However, Nisa’s stay was abruptly cut short as she was asked to leave, citing limited operating hours.

Despite Nisa’s evident weakness and fatigue, she was sent home, prompting Erlangga to escort her back to the clinic later.

Unfortunately, the second visit was marred by alleged neglect, with the midwife engrossed in her cellphone rather than providing necessary care and information to Nisa.

Erlangga revealed that Nisa gave birth at 10:00 p.m. under distressing circumstances.

The midwife, seemingly indifferent, continued using her cellphone during the birthing process and reportedly used Nisa as a practice subject for students at the clinic.

The baby, born weighing 1.7 kilograms, fell below the threshold for normal weight, requiring special attention and monitoring.

After the birth, Erlangga expressed concern about the lack of assistance provided to Nisa, who was left to bathe alone despite the standard practice of requiring assistance for at least six hours post-delivery.

It was Erlangga’s older sister who eventually stepped in to provide support and assist Nisa in bathing.

The family raised questions about the absence of an incubator, a crucial device for premature babies.

However, their concerns were brushed aside by the clinic, claiming to await information from the hospital.

The confusion deepened when, at 8:30 a.m. the next day, the midwife informed Erlangga that his prematurely born child and wife were cleared to go home.

Without a return letter, health certificate, or clear instructions, Erlangga and his family took Nisa and the baby home.

Tragically, at 9:00 p.m., the baby’s heartbeat ceased. The family rushed back to Alifa Clinic, only to find it unexpectedly closed.

A subsequent announcement of the baby’s death left the family in hysterics, as no explanation was provided.

Confirming the gravity of the situation, the family decided to take the baby to Jasa Kartini Hospital. Upon arrival, a nurse weighed the baby, revealing a weight of only 1.5 kg.

In response to the critical condition, the hospital took immediate action, attempting to resuscitate the baby’s heart. Despite their efforts, the baby did not survive the ordeal.

Seeking clarification, Erlangga’s older sister visited Alifa Clinic the following day, Wednesday (15 Nov) to confront the relevant midwife, Dwi Yunita.

However, Dwi avoided meeting Erlangga’s sister.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the baby had been used as a content model, contrary to the standard practice of placing premature infants in incubators for approximately seven days.

The deceased baby’s family took formal action and reported the matter to police

In light of the perceived negligence, the family of the deceased baby eventually decided to take formal action and reported the incident to the Tasikmalaya City Police.

Expressing gratitude that their complaint was acknowledged, Nadia, Erlangga’s older sister, mentioned, “This afternoon, we reported it to the Tasikmalaya City Police. Thank God our complaint was accepted.”

Jajang Kurniawan, the public relations officer for the Tasikmalaya City Police, verified the receipt of the report from the victim’s family on Monday (20 Nov).

He confirmed that the complaint triggered an investigation, with a team from the Criminal Investigation Unit visiting the victim’s family’s residence.

Jajang elaborated, stating, “We received a complaint on Monday. Then, this morning, a team from the Criminal Investigation Unit went to the victim’s family’s house. We picked up the ball because the baby’s mother was still weak after giving birth.”