Bunbury health system rocked as second family demands answers following death of healthy mum during childbirth

Another family is demanding answers from the Bunbury hospital system after a “healthy mum” died during childbirth. The West Australian can reveal 35-year-old Melody Taripe passed away in Bunbury Regional Hospital on July 20 during a planned caesarean surgery despite what her husband Joneal said had been a complication-free pregnancy. The public hospital is co-located with the private St John of God Hospital at the South West Health Campus. St John was recently embroiled in a horrific hospital bungle that killed a baby and left Sarah Hassan fighting for her life after a midwife gave her a massive overdose of morphine during the last hours of her pregnancy. Mr Taripe said six months on from their tragedy at the public hospital he is still waiting for answers as to why his wife died. A spokeswoman for the WA Country Health Service said the “findings” an investigation into the death “indicate no human error was involved”. He told The West Australian that when he waved goodbye before the birth with his four-year-old son Cedrick by his side everything appeared normal. “I had Cedrick with me, so I couldn’t go in,” Mr Taripe said. “We’re from the Philippines, so we didn’t have any of our family with us and I didn’t want to leave my son.” Mrs Taripe gave birth to her second son Cyrus and then died. “I’m trying to stay strong for my two boys, but I need answers,” Mr Taripe said. “This is not supposed to happen to a healthy mum. “My wife died in their care. “How can they tell me they don’t know what happened?” Mr Taripe said he had to leave his job to become a stay-at-home dad for his sons. He has temporarily moved to Albany so his brother can help him take care of the children. He said Cedrick often wakes up in the middle of the night and goes looking for his mother. “I’ve tried to explain it to him, but it’s hard because he is so young,” he said. “He still thinks his mum will come home.” Mr Taripe is still waiting for the Coroner’s Report to determine his wife’s cause of death. After the news of Ms Hassan’s baby death, Mr Taripe decided to speak out. After questions this week from The West Australian to the WA Country Health Service , Mr Taripe was contacted by the WACHS and they are now organising to speak with him “WACHS extends its deepest condolences to the family and, while nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, the organisation remains committed to communicating the cause of this tragic death with family members,” the spokeswoman said. “Conversations pertaining to death are sensitive and complex and must be undertaken at a time agreed to by the next of kin. “In the early stages of grief, a next of kin may opt to defer this step until they are able.” Earlier this month, The West Australian revealed Ms Hassan and her husband Sunny Alam lost their son Zyeen, who was stillborn after Ms Hassan was injected with 100mg of morphine — 10 times the amount prescribed — in December.

Bunbury health system rocked as second family demands answers following death of healthy mum during childbirth

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Harvey Waroona Reporter