8-Month old baby: traumatic blood drawing incident

On 29 June 2025, we took our 8-month-old baby to the Netcare Sunninghill Emergency Room due to concerning symptoms. Our baby has a heart condition, so any medical situation is especially critical. The attending doctor requested blood tests to check for infection, and Ampath was called in to draw the blood.

Before the procedure, I asked how much blood would be taken and was told it would be only 4ml. We were then asked to leave the room while the blood was drawn. From outside, we could hear our baby screaming intensely. Through the frosted glass, we observed one of the nurses repeatedly wiping the floor—returning to do so more than four times.

When the procedure was over, the ER nurse appeared visibly shaken as she handed our baby back to us. He was extremely distressed and difficult to calm. Just two minutes later, Ampath returned, stating that the doctor needed more blood. Again, we were asked to leave the room. Once more, we saw the same repeated floor-wiping behavior.

After the second attempt, I entered the room and saw blood spatters on the floor, wall, and door—partially wiped but still clearly visible. When we asked the doctor about this, she said she would speak to the nurse. The nurse later explained that blood had spilled from the syringe after the draw. However, this explanation did not align with what we witnessed—multiple rounds of wiping and visible blood stains in several areas.

Our baby was left with multiple needle marks on both his hands and legs. I have photographs documenting this. For a baby with a heart condition, it is absolutely vital that procedures are done with care, precision, and minimal distress. While we understand that drawing blood from infants can be challenging, it is expected that trained professionals—especially those from a laboratory—are equipped to handle such situations with the utmost competence and compassion.

This experience was deeply traumatic for us and, more importantly, for our baby. The lack of transparency, the distress caused, and the questionable handling of the procedure are unacceptable. We hope this review serves as a call for accountability and improved care standards, especially for vulnerable patients.