Hospital calls Dubai police after parents refuse to take disabled child home

Social work officials follow up on case after baby was left in the care of staff for six months

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Reporter: N/A: Corona. A police car patrols an empty JBR. Tuesday, April 14th, 2020. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Dubai Police asked a couple to sign an undertaking to take their disabled baby home from hospital.

The parents left the baby boy at the hospital after he was born with disabilities.

He was left in the care of medical staff for more than six months.

Doctors told police officers that the couple visited the baby but refused to take him home.

"The parents were told the child's condition was stable and he could be taken home," said Maj Ali Al Matroushi, director of the Woman and Child Protection Section at Dubai Police.

When they still refused, the hospital offered medical home-care equipment to help them take care of the baby.

“But they still did not respond and the hospital lodged a complaint against them,” he said.

He declined to name the hospital.

The parents are close relatives and have an older child, who was also born with disabilities, Maj Matroushi said.

He said his department dealt with several cases where parents of newborns leave them at hospital after they are told their child is disabled.

“This case was registered in Bur Dubai and was the most shocking one,” Maj Matroushi said.

“The Community Development Authority is following up on the case to ensure the safety of the child and that he is receiving appropriate care.”