Dannett Gooden strokes the head of her son Nathaniel. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Dannett Gooden might have given birth while standing, but the mother of four refuses to take her alleged poor treatment lying down.

Gooden, whose newborn allegedly crashed to the floor when the umbilical cord broke during delivery, plans to sue the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH).

The 40-year-old hopes victory in the courtroom will reshape what she deems a culture of poor service at the maternity hospital.

"I want to sue them because that is serious. A lot of women having problems, but they are afraid to come out," Gooden said.

"They treat us like animals and we don't deserve that."

Gooden said she hoped the case would translate into a victory for all women and better service delivery to the women who give birth at the state-owned VJH in Kingston.

"(I am hoping for) better service down by the hospital, so that when other ladies go down there to have babies, they get better service."

Gooden said she was in the process of securing the services of a lawyer.

David Dobson, chief executive officer of the KPH, said the mother was well within her right. "Well it is her right. And, if she thinks she has a case ... by all means, you can't discourage her," he said.

Written complaint

As instructed by the hospital's management, Gooden sent a written complaint to the VJH on Friday. In a previous interview, Novlin Little, deputy chief executive officer of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), who has direct responsibility for the VJH, told The Gleaner that the hospital's investigative machinery would be activated after Gooden submitted her official complaint. Little did not return our calls to confirm or deny receipt of the letter.

However, Dobson told The Gleaner late yesterday that a tho-rough investigation would be done.

"We have actually requested all the details. I told them I need to see everything, from the incident report coming up ... all that transpired," Dobson said.

Gooden gave birth at the VJH on November 4. She alleged that three nurses were in the delivery room when the incident happened.

After asking for help, Gooden claimed she became indecisive because she was being given contradictory instructions. The baby exited shortly afterwards.

Dobson

How do you rate conditions at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital? Email comments to letters@gleanerjm.com or post responses to: Editorial Department, The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.