INJUSTICE! British Hospital Sacks Midwife, 52, for Exposing Dangers of an HIV Baby in Foster Care…Verbally, Physically assault her after 20 years’ service experience *Cheated Midwife suffers Stroke * Says: “Anti-Retroviral Drugs hidden in Coca cola bottle” *Her words: “I exposed them after 4 months of their inaction to my letters, since I fear children of the foster parents risk infection”

INJUSTICE!

British Hospital Sacks Midwife, 52, for Exposing Dangers of an HIV Baby in Foster Care…Verbally, Physically assault her after 20 years’ service experience

*Cheated Midwife suffers Stroke * Says: “Anti-Retroviral Drugs hidden in Coca cola bottle”

*Her words: “I exposed them after 4 months of their inaction to my letters, since I fear children of the foster parents risk infection”

BY LIONEL FAJEL/EUROPEAN MEDICAL REPORTER

FOR exposing a foster care home who adopted a boy that allegedly had an HIV within a home in a British hospital, Tricia McDaid, a midwife who had spent 20 years(greater parts of her life) in same hospital was ‘sacked, humiliated and being prosecuted’ in various high courts in United Kingdom. Her offense: for speaking the truth, which she believes was ethical in any standard medical practice.

Her Career on Line

Naija Standard gathered that this highly experienced midwife is now fighting for her career after speaking out when she discovered foster carers had not been told they were looking after a baby who may have been HIV positive.

McDaid blew the whistle over concerns for the safety of the baby as well as the foster parents and their three young children, who had no idea they were exposed to risk of infection.

Her Complaints to her Medical Superiors

Naija Standard learnt she had complained to her superiors and sent letters to the head of midwifery at her hospital trust and the Department of Health, claiming it was unacceptable that the human rights of the mother, who had HIV and wanted to hide her status, were considered more important than protecting foster families.

But after four months of inaction she finally decided to warn the public by speaking to the Daily Mail, in the hope that something might finally be done.

How she was verbally, physically assaulted…being prosecuted

Narrating her ordeal, this experienced midwife who is originally from Strabane, Northern Ireland, claims she was verbally and physically assaulted at work, subjected to racist abuse and became so stressed she ended up having a stroke – before she was suspended, hauled through the courts and struck off as a midwife last year. After going to the High Court, which ruled her case must be reheard. Mrs McDaid recently appeared at a misconduct hearing, which will rule if she will be struck off for good.

She says charges against her ‘Ridiculous’

Angry-looking McDaid said withholding the HIV status from the foster parents was ‘completely unethical,’ adding: ‘I call a spade a spade. The truth hurts some people. It [speaking out] was warranted. People do need to be told the truth.’

It would be recalled that in November 2008, the mother with HIV from Newham, East London, gave birth to a young boy, who had to be treated with anti-retroviral drugs in case he also was carrying the disease. During his birth, doctors, nurses and midwives wore masks, goggles, double sets of gloves, boots and protective clothing to cut the risk of infection.

When he was a few days old he was put into care but the foster parents, who had three children of her own under the age of five, were not told he could have HIV. True, babies who are born to HIV positive mothers may also be infected. It is not possible to know for sure until they are 18 months old. So shocking was how anti-retroviral drugs they had to administer were reportedly ‘disguised’ in Coca Cola bottles.