Newborn Rescued From Morgue Dies 4 Days After He Was Falsely Pronounced Dead

A newborn boy, who was falsely declared dead after doctors thought he was stillborn, died four days later at a hospital in Mexico.

The child, identified as Jesús Sebastián, was born prematurely at 23 weeks at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Torreón, a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila, on Aug 18. Doctors at the time said the boy was stillborn and shifted him to the hospital morgue. The infant was rescued from the morgue four hours later after the staff noticed movements. Medics tried to revive him but the infant died Sunday, Mexico News Daily reported.

Daniela Hernández, the child's mother, alerted doctors after noticing her son was moving. However, the doctors told her it was only a reflex movement, local news outlet Proceso reported.

Though the family members signed a death certificate, they wanted to make sure the infant was indeed dead. That was when the staff at the morgue realized the baby was breathing.

The boy's condition was stable when he was rescued from the morgue, but he died Sunday night. According to the medical reports, the four-day-old baby had suffered two heart attacks.

The family has filed a complaint against the hospital. Their lawyer said the staff could face charges of medical negligence or even homicide.

"All those involved … will be summoned by the [hospital's] labor relations area, their conduct will be reviewed and sanctions will be issued if irregularities are found," IMSS said.

The Coahuila Human Rights Commission has initiated an investigation.

"We regret the suffering the family of the minor went through; … accompanying the family [during this difficult time] is one of the first actions [we will undertake] and we've opened a preliminary investigation," Hugo Morales, the head of Coahuila Human Rights Commission, said.