The following is an article from the Jewish Chronicle: The coroner at the inquest of a baby who died after his bris has praised the strictly Orthodox ambulance service that took him to hospital, after the baby’s father questioned the first aiders’ techniques.
Amitai Moshe was circumcised on February 1 2007 in Golders Green Synagogue but shortly after the ceremony he began to turn blue and blood was seen around his mouth.
The Hatzola ambulance service was called and rushed him to hospital but he was pronounced dead eight days later at the University College London hospital.
Today, coroner, Andrew Walker at Hornsey Coroners’ Court, told David Bordon and David Strassman, the two Hatzola volunteers who attended to Amitai: “Not for one moment should you begin to blame yourself for what happened that day.
“Both of you did what you could to save Amitai’s life. Do not consider for one moment giving up your part in Hatzola which would be much the less without you.”
Yesterday, the court heard from Amitai’s father, Ram, who said that the Hatzola crew did not have the correct equipment when they arrived, including an oversized air mask and suction apparatus.
He said that he repeatedly asked them to do more to help their son.
The court also heard from Keith Miller, a London Ambulance paramedic who said that their ambulances supply baby sized equipment but that he did not criticised the Hatzola crew for rushing straight to the hospital after they were unable to clear Amitai’s airway.
Mr Walker also ruled that the pathologist’s report should no longer say that the baby’s collapse “immediately followed” his circumcision.
He said: “The comment is founded on fact now known to be incorrect. It’s not correct to say the collapse occurred immediately following circumcision.”
The inquest continues.
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17 Responses
Why did the father claim that they didn’t have the right equipment?
Very sad. If red wine was used during the bris on a cloth or from a dropper, I would suspect anaphalactic shock syndrome related to sulfides in the wine possibly causing the problem.
Shaggy, On what do you base your statement?
Perhaps the baby was not physically healthy and ready for the bris to be done. The other possibility was that the Doctor who examined the baby prior to the bris, missed a health problem that might have postponed the bris. #2 Your theory could also be right.
To Shaggy, #2
Can’t be.
Allergic reaction only occurs the SECOND (or more) time one is exposed.
PS What a shame the father felt the need to lash out.
What a terrible story- I’ve never heard of such a thing…
Is the comment from Shaggy something that all Mohelim should be aware of and based on sound medical evidence?
An ingrate looking to blame someone for a tragedy and not caring that he could have ruined two innocent men and a service that is needed by all.
Is the issue of red whine based on sound medical evidence and if so should Mohelim and parents be aware of it?
#2… On what basis do you make such assumption? Did you personally check out the baby and what is there to gain by making such a claim? Do you suddenly know more than the mohel (and the countless others) who know what they are doing?
#2 – I know people who are allergic to sulfites – how common or uncommon is the occurence of anaphalactic reaction to sulfites? I’m wondering whether as allergies become more prevalent a trend toward an organic-type grape juice, which would not contain sulfites, should or might begin. All that aside, however, this posting cannot pass with commenting on the tragedy – terrible, terrible – one can hope only that the family finds strength to go on –
Of course the father shouldn’t blame these two tzaddikim, but who knows what trauma he is going through having r.l. lost a child?! Al tidon es chavercho ad etc
ANAPHYLAXIS (anaphYlactic shock)
#5 – I’m not sure if you’re talking about this specific type of allergic reaction or allergic reactions in general. But it’s possible for one to react the very first time he’s exposed to what he’s allergic to. (My son is severely allergic to dairy – and from the very first time he had a drop of it – we didn’t know he was allergic yet; he was only 3 months old – he had trouble breathing.)
Unbelievable how naive we can all be! Does anyone honestly believe that “just because the mohel is frum” a perfectly normal baby should die right after the bris because of anything other than oversight of the mohel?
Either he did not do his due diligence to see the baby is healthy, or something HE DID – YES, I said it – caused the baby’s unfortunate death.
The Rambam writes “אפשר למול לאחר זמן ואי אפשר להחזיר נפש אחת מישראל”
The mohel has a lot to answer for on Yom Kippur.
Rachmana Litzlan. I hope he never works again.
To #2,
By saying (guessing) it was anaphylaxis you’re making all the responders look bad. Anaphylaxis is usually pretty easy to treat, but if you claim some sort of undetected congenital heart problem, like one poster mentioned, once these “blue babies” code it’s very hard to bring them back. Keep your made up rumors to yourself- just wait until everyone gets the coroner’s report!
To # 17 – YouCallMeFrum :
How can you put blame on the mohel? Do you know all the facts? How about don lechaf zdchus?
What chuztpa to state ‘The mohel has a lot to answer for on Yom Kippur’.
When you know all the facts, please present them to all of us.