12-day-old newborn dies at Mokpo postnatal care center; police investigate
In short
A 12-day-old newborn died at a postnatal care center in Mokpo, and police have opened an investigation. A report of the death was received on the 19th, and police said they would request an autopsy from the National Forensic Service and examine whether the center was negligent.
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A newborn aged 12 days died at a postnatal care center in Mokpo, and police have started an investigation, according to reports published on 21 and 22 October that cite Mokpo Police Station. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Police said a report was received on the 19th that the baby had died. Yonhap, Maeil Business, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun put the report between 10:00 and 10:30, Dong-A Ilbo said around 10:00, and Newsis said around 11:00. Yonhap, Maeil Business, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun reported that the parents called police; Newsis later said the baby's father did. Seoul Shinmun said the parents found the baby. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Police plan to ask the National Forensic Service to carry out an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business, Kukmin Ilbo, Newsis and Seoul Shinmun. Dong-A Ilbo reported that the baby was said to have shown cyanosis symptoms at the time of death. Newsis reported that two center staff members were present when the baby died. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Police are also examining whether the center was careless. Dong-A Ilbo reported that there was no CCTV at the scene and that police would investigate center staff over possible professional negligence. Seoul Shinmun quoted a police official as saying police would determine whether there was negligence by combining the autopsy results, analysis of CCTV inside the center and statements from those involved. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Seoul Shinmun reported that Mokpo city health authorities began checking the center's compliance with staffing standards, hygiene in the newborn room and its emergency response system, and started emergency safety inspections of similar facilities in the area. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
Police are examining whether staff care at the center was negligent, and Mokpo city has started emergency safety checks of similar facilities in the area. The cause of death is not yet known and awaits the autopsy.
Key facts
- A newborn aged 12 days died at a postnatal care center in Mokpo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Mokpo Police Station said a report of the death was received on the 19th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Police have asked or plan to ask the National Forensic Service to carry out an autopsy to establish the cause of death. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Police are looking into whether the care center was careless or negligent. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Mokpo city health authorities began emergency inspections of the center and of similar facilities in the area, Seoul Shinmun reported. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 12-day-old newborn died at a postnatal care center in Mokpo and police are investigating. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- A report of the death was received on the 19th, according to Mokpo Police Station. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The newborn's parents are reported to have called police. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Police plan to have the National Forensic Service perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Police are checking whether the care center was careless in its care of the baby. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- Cause of the newborn's death Police are waiting for the autopsy by the National Forensic Service; no document gives a cause.
- Exact time of the report Yonhap, Maeil Business, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun give between 10:00 and 10:30 on the 19th, Dong-A Ilbo says around 10:00, and Newsis says around 11:00.
- Whether there is CCTV footage of the incident Dong-A Ilbo reported there was no CCTV at the scene, while Seoul Shinmun quoted a police official as saying CCTV inside the center would be analysed.
- Whether the baby showed cyanosis at death Only Dong-A Ilbo reported that the baby was said to show cyanosis symptoms when it died.
- Whether the center or its staff were at fault Police said they are investigating possible negligence; no finding has been reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On the 19th, between about 10:00 and 10:30 according to most outlets, a report was received that a newborn had died at a Mokpo postnatal care center. Newsis gives around 11:00. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Newsis published the first report of the death, citing Mokpo Police Station on the 21st. [ 1 ]
- Newsis updated its report: the baby's father was said to have called police and two center staff members were reported to have been present at the time of death. [ 6 ]
- On the 22nd Seoul Shinmun reported that Mokpo city had begun emergency safety checks of postnatal care centers in the area. [ 7 ]