Hospital Buries Child Without Family's Permission

A Newkirk Mother is fighting for the return of her baby boy's body. Vanessa Weir said Mercy Hospital buried him without her permission. "It was devastating," Weir said. Back in October Weir delivered twins. Her daughter Peyton was born premature but healthy, her son Jaxon however died in utero. "I did get to hold him, once," Weir said. The hospital told the new mom they would keep her sons body in the morgue until funeral arrangements were made. Peyton was in NICO for more than two months, and by the time Weir arranged for his funeral in Ponca City this week, she was told he was already buried." All the phone calls, and the funearl home and all that.. and nobody said anything." Weird said. She later discovered he was buried in an Oklahoma  City cemetery while they Peyton was still in NICU.
Mercy Hospital released this statement to Fox 25 about the mistake.
Because of our deep commitment to the sanctity of life, Mercy provides the rite of Christian burial each quarter, when parents do not request a private burial. We regret that there was a break in communication regarding the family’s wishes. At the request of the family, we are making arrangements with the funeral home to have the body returned to his family so they can have a private burial in their hometown.  - Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Vanessa Weir hopes to have her son returned and buried in Ponca City as soon as possible. She's hired a lawyer to help in the process, "Maybe some protocol needs to change, in the way they do things, with parents who lose their babies," Weir said.
Mark Taylor
Fox 25 News
MeTaylor@okcfox.com

Posted: Monday, February 18 2013, 09:50 PM CST