Coroner in Ohio apologizes, vows changes after wrong infant's body is cremated - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 05-25-2010, 01:49 PM

http://www.fox8.com/news/sns-ap-oh--...,5028026.story

By Associated Press
8:04 AM EDT, May 25, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio coroner is apologizing while saying that's not enough to make up for a mix-up that resulted in an infant's body being cremated by mistake.

Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak in Columbus said Monday that an employee in her office misidentified two dead children and released the wrong body to a funeral home. Fourteen-month-old Jaylen Talley was cremated, though his family planned to bury him in a tiny white tuxedo.

Gorniak says the employee has been placed on paid leave while the matter is investigated. She says procedures in her office are being evaluated.

Jaylen's family members say they want assurances that changes will be made.

The boy died last week. The family says he'd suffered breathing difficulties since birth.

Marvo301 · 05-25-2010, 05:24 PM

Yikes! That's not a mistake that can be corrected. I hope they find out how the mistake was made so they can avoid repeating it and no other family has to go through this.

MickeyMac · 05-25-2010, 06:17 PM

SAY WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

catlover79 · 05-26-2010, 10:50 PM

http://www.fox8.com/news/sns-ap-us--...,3703520.story

By Associated Press
8:11 PM EDT, May 26, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A coroner in Ohio has fired an employee blamed for an error that led to the body of a 1-year-old boy being cremated against his family's wishes.

Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak fired seven-year employee Angela Summerfield on Wednesday, saying she did not follow proper procedure and released the wrong body to a funeral home.

The coroner says Summerfield's error led to the release last week of the body of Jaylen Talley, instead of the body of a 22-day-old infant whose family wanted cremation.

Summerfield says she checked identification tags before releasing the body to a funeral home driver and that she plans a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Gorniak now requires employees to take photographs to identify bodies before release, and she plans to install security cameras to monitor employees.

Marvo301 · 05-26-2010, 10:58 PM

I'm glad steps have been taken to avoid a repeat of this tragic error. I'm also glad that the employee who was negligent in her duties has had to face consequences for her negligence.

Retro4Life · 05-26-2010, 11:04 PM

I can't imagine the trauma of the parents of the child who was accidentally cremated. I mean, yes, either way the poor kid is deceased but the families' wishes are sacrosanct and so important in the grieving process.

Just one of those stories where you shake your head and say, "what a terrible shame."

hno:

Janice · 05-27-2010, 12:02 AM

Heartbreaking story. Sad beyond words. My sister's baby died during delivery 30 years ago. He was full term; I held him in my arms. That infant, Christopher, was buried in a beautiful Christening gown, with a gold cross pinned to it. Little satin shoes. He has a gravestone, and my family always went to church on the anniversary of his death. I guess my point is that I can strongly relate to this story. Had they done this to Christopher, my family would have gone even crazier than we already were at that time.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Heartbreaking story. Sad beyond words. My sister's baby died during delivery 30 years ago. He was full term; I held him in my arms. That infant, Christopher, was buried in a beautiful Christening gown, with a gold cross pinned to it. Little satin shoes. He has a gravestone, and my family always went to church on the anniversary of his death. I guess my point is that I can strongly relate to this story. Had they done this to Christopher, my family would have gone even crazier than we already were at that time.

Oh, Janice, I'm so sorry - how heartbreaking. I visited my own two nephews in the hospital the days they were born and love them so much - I can't even imagine how it must feel to lose a full-term baby like that. My sister miscarried her first baby at 8 weeks and that was a nightmare.

I guess that's one reason I never wanted to have children of my own - and this sickening story just drives the point home even further. Inexcusable!

Janice · 05-27-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Oh, Janice, I'm so sorry - how heartbreaking. I visited my own two nephews in the hospital the days they were born and love them so much - I can't even imagine how it must feel to lose a full-term baby like that. My sister miscarried her first baby at 8 weeks and that was a nightmare.

I guess that's one reason I never wanted to have children of my own - and this sickening story just drives the point home even further. Inexcusable!

Thanks Monika. I'll never understand it. She was two weeks overdue. She wanted to be induced. The baby strangled on his umbilical cord? WTH? My sister kept saying, throughout her entire pregnancy, that she was getting a strange vibe from her doctor. I'm not saying it's his fault; just that he didn't care.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Thanks Monika. I'll never understand it. She was two weeks overdue. She wanted to be induced. The baby strangled on his umbilical cord? WTH? My sister kept saying, throughout her entire pregnancy, that she was getting a strange vibe from her doctor. I'm not saying it's his fault; just that he didn't care.

If that happened today to someone, that doctor would be on the wrong end of a malpractice lawsuit!!!!

05-25-2010, 01:49 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Coroner in Ohio apologizes, vows changes after wrong infant's body is cremated http://www.fox8.com/news/sns-ap-oh--...,5028026.story By Associated Press 8:04 AM EDT, May 25, 2010 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio coroner is apologizing while saying that's not enough to make up for a mix-up that resulted in an infant's body being cremated by mistake. Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak in Columbus said Monday that an employee in her office misidentified two dead children and released the wrong body to a funeral home. Fourteen-month-old Jaylen Talley was cremated, though his family planned to bury him in a tiny white tuxedo. Gorniak says the employee has been placed on paid leave while the matter is investigated. She says procedures in her office are being evaluated. Jaylen's family members say they want assurances that changes will be made. The boy died last week. The family says he'd suffered breathing difficulties since birth.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-25-2010, 05:24 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Yikes! That's not a mistake that can be corrected. I hope they find out how the mistake was made so they can avoid repeating it and no other family has to go through this.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-26-2010, 10:50 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Ohio coroner's worker fired in mix-up that led to body of wrong baby being cremated http://www.fox8.com/news/sns-ap-us--...,3703520.story By Associated Press 8:11 PM EDT, May 26, 2010 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A coroner in Ohio has fired an employee blamed for an error that led to the body of a 1-year-old boy being cremated against his family's wishes. Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak fired seven-year employee Angela Summerfield on Wednesday, saying she did not follow proper procedure and released the wrong body to a funeral home. The coroner says Summerfield's error led to the release last week of the body of Jaylen Talley, instead of the body of a 22-day-old infant whose family wanted cremation. Summerfield says she checked identification tags before releasing the body to a funeral home driver and that she plans a wrongful termination lawsuit. Gorniak now requires employees to take photographs to identify bodies before release, and she plans to install security cameras to monitor employees.

05-26-2010, 11:04 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I can't imagine the trauma of the parents of the child who was accidentally cremated. I mean, yes, either way the poor kid is deceased but the families' wishes are sacrosanct and so important in the grieving process. Just one of those stories where you shake your head and say, "what a terrible shame." hno:
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-25-2010, 06:17 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	SAY WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

05-26-2010, 10:58 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I'm glad steps have been taken to avoid a repeat of this tragic error. I'm also glad that the employee who was negligent in her duties has had to face consequences for her negligence.

05-27-2010, 12:02 AM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Heartbreaking story. Sad beyond words. My sister's baby died during delivery 30 years ago. He was full term; I held him in my arms. That infant, Christopher, was buried in a beautiful Christening gown, with a gold cross pinned to it. Little satin shoes. He has a gravestone, and my family always went to church on the anniversary of his death. I guess my point is that I can strongly relate to this story. Had they done this to Christopher, my family would have gone even crazier than we already were at that time.