Tygerberg Hospital says an internal review has found no evidence of negligence after parents claimed one of their newborn twins fell from an incubator shortly after birth.
IOL reports that the couple had alleged on social media that one of the infants had fallen from a faulty incubator – but the hospital’s investigation cleared both the institution and its staff of the allegations.
In response to the Cape Argus, the hospital further warned that should the matter escalate into a medico-legal case, the merits of the case could not be explored any further.
Extensive efforts to reach the parents for further comments after they took to social media a few days ago via Facebook were unsuccessful.
In their detailed account of the alleged incident, the parents sought legal advice and claimed one of their newborns was found lying face-down on the floor, and that she had fallen from a “broken” incubator.
The father of the twins wrote: “I am writing to seek your assistance in a matter involving medical negligence at Tygerberg Hospital on 22 January 2026. My fiancée gave birth to twin girls at the hospital, and they were placed in an incubator shortly after birth.
"Due to a broken incubator, the nurses moved our babies to another incubator that they knew was also faulty. When my fiancée returned from the bathroom, she found one of our daughters lying on the floor.
“The nurses failed to provide adequate supervision, and no medical staff attended to our child immediately. The doctor examining our baby later that day failed to inform us about the incident or the potential consequences of the fall. When my mother-in-law asked about the baby’s condition, a nurse reassured her that the child was fine, despite our concerns.
“We are deeply concerned about the long-term effects of this incident on our child's health and well-being. Given the hospital’s lack of transparency and inadequate response, we believe they are liable for the harm caused to our child.
“We request that you review our case and advise on the best course of action. We are seeking compensation for the harm caused to our child and hold the hospital accountable for their negligence.”
The parent further listed their grievances: failure to provide a safe and functional incubator, “to adequately supervise our babies, to inform us about the incident and potential consequences, and to provide timely and appropriate medical care”.
In response to the allegations, Tygerberg Hospital emphasised its commitment to patient transparency and care after engaging with the family, stating that an internal review had been finalised, which determined no evidence of negligence.
“Tygerberg Hospital confirms that it is aware of the concerns of the alleged incident in the labour ward.
“The matter was reviewed internally in line with established patient safety protocols. Based on the information available to the hospital, no evidence of negligence on the part of staff was identified.
"As this is a potential medico-legal matter involving a patient and her minor children, it would not be appropriate to discuss specific clinical details or internal processes in the media.
“The hospital has engaged directly with the family and remains committed to patient safety, transparency, and the provision of quality care.
“The Western Cape Government Health & Wellness will continue to follow the appropriate processes in this regard.”
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