Carlina White's Story...and How Hospitals Prevent Newborn Kidnapping
Carlina White was kidnapped from a New York City Hospital as an infant. Her story has a happy ending: Carlina White was just incredibly reunited with her family after 23 years. But it's every new mom's nightmare: the baby you've carried and given birth to is stolen from the hospital as you recuperate, helpless, in a room down the hall. And to make matters worse, Carlina was kidnapped by a woman pretending to be a nurse, a medical professional a new mother is supposed to trust.
Carlina was kidnapped in 1987. Shortly thereafter, a 1991 article in The Journal of Obsteric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing explored the steps hospitals might take to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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Strategies included:
Understanding the profile of the potential kidnapper (according to childfind.org, there is a specific profile).
Reviewing common methods of abducting infants
Developing visiting guidelines
Instituting staff identification policies.
But we've come a long way since then. Take a look at some of the ways 21st century hospitals try to ensure the safety of newborn babies and prevent kidnapping:
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Security cameras: These are ubiquitous in hospitals as in all institutional buildings at this point.
Infant Protection Alarms: Umbilical clamps or ankle bracelets that cannot be removed except by hospital personnel are being employed by some hospitals. These tags send off an alarm when the infant is removed without permission.
Infant Identifcation systems: Some hospitals use identification bracelets to connect mothers and infants. There are also umbilical cord clamps with identifying numbers.
Special rules for exiting the Maternity floor or hospital: Most hospitals now require extensive checks and sign out procedures before mothers are allowed to leave the maternity area. Some hospitals require mothers to leave the hospital in a wheelchair, pushed by a hospital escort.
For more security measures hospitals have taken to ensure newborn safety, visit Babble.
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