A mother of a six-month-old was detained overnight after doctors misinterpreted her son's birthmarks as bruises, leading police to suspect her of abuse.
Mother Criminalized for 6-Month-Old Son's Birthmarks
Laxmi Thapa felt treated like a criminal when her son was taken from her, and she spent 20 hours in custody on neglect allegations. After her release, she faced another three days apart from her child, who appeared distressed upon their reunion.
The 29-year-old has filed a formal complaint against Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, alleging discrimination, as these blue spots are common among mixed-ethnicity and Black or Asian children.
Thapa, a Nepalese national living in Basingstoke, spent 20 hours in a police cell, feeling unjustly treated without medical evidence. During her detention, her baby was cared for by the hospital, and she was allowed to express milk for him.
Thapa expressed her diminished trust in hospitals, fearing further assumptions. She initially learned about her son's blue spot at birth, which later darkened and spread, prompting her to seek medical advice.
When she visited the emergency department, she was asked to sign documents she couldn't read and was subsequently arrested without a thorough examination.
Thapa described the helplessness of being separated from her baby and being denied the chance to breastfeed.
She felt that her race and language contributed to their assumptions and said she was treated unfairly. After her arrest, she was questioned for hours and was only released on bail.
It took three days for the hospital to confirm that the marks were indeed blue spots and not bruises. The doctor who returned her son apologized, but Thapa is questioning why the staff failed to recognize the markings despite them being noted in her baby's medical records.
Mother Reluctant to Return to Hospital After False Detention
After the incident, she is apprehensive about returning to the hospital due to the emotional stress she experienced.
The founder of the Blue Spot Campaign, Faye Wheeler, is assisting Thapa with her complaint, highlighting a broader issue of discrimination faced by mothers of children with similar birthmarks.
The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust stated that their safeguarding procedures aim to protect children, and while they cannot discuss specific cases, they emphasize the complexity of distinguishing between bruises and Mongolian blue spots.
Hampshire Constabulary acknowledged the emotional distress such investigations can cause and reiterated their commitment to thorough inquiries. After reviewing medical reports, they confirmed that no assault had occurred, and Thapa was released without charges.
Campaigners are calling for greater awareness of Mongolian blue spots, emphasizing the emotional toll misdiagnosis can take on families. Wheeler noted that such misdiagnoses lead to mistrust in healthcare professionals.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Anacora emphasized that police involvement is standard in suspected child safeguarding cases, although she acknowledged the distress such situations can cause.
Thapa received a verbal apology from a doctor at the hospital and is now working with Basingstoke Unites Against Racism on a formal complaint, expressing her desire to prevent similar experiences for others.
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