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Arequipa Hospital Probes Brief Newborn Mix-Up After Mother Flags Wrong Baby

Staff reportedly confused similar surnames despite wristband use.

Overview

  • A mother at EsSalud III Yanahuara in Arequipa says a nurse returned the wrong infant after a routine bath on Thursday morning, which she immediately disputed.
  • The family reports the mix-up lasted about 30 minutes before the correct newborn was brought back, while hospital authorities say there was no exchange and all babies wear identification bracelets.
  • EsSalud has opened an internal investigation to determine responsibility, according to the latest statement reported by RPP.
  • Grandmother Ismena Turpo Cruz denounced the incident as negligence and called for stronger newborn identification protocols at the facility.
  • Relatives say staff initially offered no formal explanation or apology, and coverage recalls a 2016 Arequipa case where an actual exchange was confirmed months later by DNA testing.