Hospital Shuts Down NICU After Disturbing Discovery

A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a Richmond, Virginia, hospital has temporarily stopped accepting new admissions following reports of unexplained injuries to three infants.

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital revealed in a statement on Tuesday that the affected infants in the NICU displayed “unexplainable fractures,” reminiscent of a similar incident involving four babies during the summer of 2023.

The hospital stated, “We initiated a thorough internal investigation, informed the families, and notified the appropriate authorities and regulatory agencies. We have been working collaboratively with them on their investigations.”

The decision to pause new admissions was described as an “abundance of caution” measure.

While premature infants are sometimes prone to fractures due to incomplete fetal development, the hospital emphasized its commitment to uncovering the cause of these specific injuries.

In response, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital implemented several safety measures. All NICU staff have undergone additional safety training, and comprehensive head-to-toe assessments are now conducted on all infants in the unit.

To enhance monitoring, the hospital installed upgraded security systems and introduced an “observer system,” requiring that every NICU provider be accompanied by another clinician during their time in a baby’s room to ensure adherence to protocols.

Footage from the NICU is being analyzed by law enforcement and healthcare providers as part of the investigation.

“The process is thorough and time-consuming, but progress is being made. So far, no evidence of misconduct or accidental actions has been identified in the video reviews,” the hospital’s statement noted. “The safety of our NICU babies is our highest priority, and we are actively implementing additional precautions to prevent future incidents.”

Henrico Police have joined the investigation. A spokesperson confirmed that their Special Victims Unit is examining the case to determine if any criminal activity occurred.

“At this time, no charges have been filed,” the police stated, adding that they are collaborating with Child Protective Services, the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia State Police, and the office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Due to the sensitive nature of the case, authorities have withheld further details until the investigation concludes.