Couple Takes Their Premature Baby From Hospital, Gets Arrested

This is a weird one. While I agree that doctors really do know best when it comes to medical … whatever… the fact that you’re legally bound to NOT take your child from the hospital and can actually get arrested for it is.. kind of surreal.

On one hand, it makes perfect sense that they should get into trouble because the baby could die. On the other hand, it’s their baby.

Weird…

The parents who took their premature baby from aSalisbury Township hospital against doctor’s orders in October were charged today with endangering the welfare of a child, records say.

April Saul, 42, and Daniel Rivera, 43, of the 300 block of Chestnut Street in Pottstown, Pa., are also charged with disorderly conduct, court records say. Both offenses are misdemeanors.

…

Saul and Rivera’s baby girl, Aarlynn Saul-Rivera, was born premature July 18 and being treated in the Lehigh Valley Hospital neonatal intensive care unit “for all of its serious medical issues,” records say. “Due to the condition of the victim, she was required to be continually monitored for heart beat, breathing and temperature.”

Records say the then 3-month-old infant needed to remain in the hospital until she met the minimum requirements for discharge, which are set by medical personnel. Also, Saul and Rivera are required to take classes to learn how to care for the baby outside the hospital, records say.

The parents had not taken the requisite classes when they took Saul-Rivera from the hospital, records say. 

Under the pretense of a visit, Saul and Rivera on Oct. 23 entered the NICU and removed monitoring equipment from their baby, records say. They took the infant from her crib and tried to leave the unit without permission to do so, records say.

The couple yelled and cursed at medical personnel who questioned them and ignored nurses who repeatedly asked them not to leave with Saul-Rivera, records say. SOURCE: The Express-Times

Doesn’t it just suck when you KNOW that this kid already has so much stacked against her? I understand that the parents probably just wanted to bring their kid home, but, wouldn’t you want her to be super healthy before you did? 

Probably a ton more behind this…