Hospital apologizes for misplacing mom’s stillborn baby

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Three years after Etobicoke General Hospital reportedly couldn’t find the body of a stillborn baby of a Brampton mother, the hospital has issued an apology to her.

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Rachel Osbourn-Hutchinson gave birth to a stillborn baby girl she named Iah in the fall of of 2021 but was unable to get the body after the hospital told her they couldn’t find it – until recently.

In the meantime, the hospital finally sent an apology by email to Osbourn-Hutchinson on Thursday night and released this general statement on Friday morning.

“William Osler Health System (Osler) expresses our sincerest condolences to the family for their loss,” the hospital’s statement begins. “At Osler, we strive to deliver safe and compassionate care for every patient and family we serve. Out of respect for patient privacy, we are not able to share details regarding individual patient matters.”

However, the hospital added in its statement: “When patient matters arise at Osler we proactively and collaboratively work with the patient and their family to address them together. Osler has robust processes in place that include undertaking comprehensive care reviews in accordance with our quality review processes, supporting patients and families, and openly sharing information in line with our commitment to transparency and values of compassion and collaboration.”

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Osbourn-Hutchinson had reportedly agreed to an autopsy on her stillborn daughter back in 2021 but it took six months before she learned that Iah’s body never made it to the Hospital for Sick Children for the procedure.

She was told by Etobicoke General they didn’t know where her baby’s body was but two years later in July 2023,  Osbourne-Hutchinson, who has since given birth to a daughter, received a call from the hospital saying they believed they had finally found the body there.

Osbourne-Hutchinson refused to take the body until she was able to get a DNA test and said the hospital even issued an ultimatum they would dispose of it if she didn’t come.

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Now, three years after Iah’s death, the Office of the Chief Coroner in Ontario has the body and will conduct a DNA test and a forensic investigation to establish its identity.

“I can confirm the Office of the Chief Coroner is assisting in determining identity in this case, but the OCC doesn’t comment publicly on any of our investigations,” an OCC spokesperson said.

The test and examination are expected to take several months.

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