Dubai Police intervene after dad and mom abandon new child with disabilities in hospital

A Bur Dubai hospital filed a complaint against the couple after refusing to bring their child home after a six-month hospital stay. Image for illustration purposes only.
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Dubai: A Dubai-based couple who left their physically disadvantaged newborn baby in a Dubai hospital claiming he needed treatment have now been asked by Dubai police to take the boy home after signing a pledge that it will take good care of him.

According to Dubai Police, a Bur Dubai hospital filed a complaint against the couple after they refused to bring their child home after a six-month hospital stay.

According to Major Dr. Ali Al Matroushi, director of the women’s and child protection division of the Dubai Police Department’s human rights division, said parents said their child was being treated for a congenital disability. “The parents were first-degree relatives and their firstborn was a determined child. Despite doctors’ warnings about having more children, the woman gave birth to her second child, who also had the same disability, ”said Maj Al Matroushi.

He said the parents had left their newborn in the hospital for treatment. They often visited him during his hospital stay for more than six months, but when asked to take him home, they refused. The child’s condition was stable and he did not need hospitalization. But the parents refused to take him home.

Hospital offers help

Major Al Matroushi said the hospital offered to provide them with medical equipment for home care. “The parents did not reply and the hospital filed a complaint against them at the police station,” said Maj Al Matroushi.

What the law says

Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on Children’s Rights, also known as Wadeema’s Law, protects children from all forms of negligence, exploitation, physical and psychological abuse.
Anyone who puts children in danger, abandons them, neglects them, leaves them unsupervised, fails to enroll them in school or enrolls them at birth will face jail time or a fine or both. The law applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Eventually, Dubai police intervened and handed the child over to his parents after they signed a pledge promising to look after their child.

In addition, the Community Development Authority is following up the case to ensure the child’s safety and to ensure that they are adequately cared for.

According to Maj Al Matroushi, his department has dealt with a number of cases where parents of newborns with determination left their children in hospitals with lame excuses for months. “It is the responsibility of parents to provide for their children’s needs and protect their rights. When parents neglect their children, they are accountable and can be punished under the law, ”added Maj Al Matroushi.