Woops! Apple Valley Mom Sues Hospital After Newborn Mix-Up

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — An Apple Valley mom is suing a Minneapolis hospital after her newborn was given to the wrong woman and subsequently breastfed. The Dec. 3, 2012 incident occurred at the Mother Baby Center at Allina Health System's Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Abbott Northwestern admitted that a mistake was made, saying in a statement, "While hospital procedures require staff to match codes on the infants and mothers identification bands in order to prevent incidents like this, it appears these procedures were not followed in this case."

KARE 11 reported that Tammy Van Dyke is seeking $50,000 in damages for medical treatment, tests and emotional pain related to the incident. The lawsuit was filed in Hennepin County Dec. 1.

According to KSPT, the lawsuit states the hospital "negligently failed to care for" Van Dyke's son, who was given to another mother in the hospital who then breastfed him.

Van Dyke, the boy and the other mother had to go through "unnecessary medical treatments and tests" because of the incident, according to the lawsuit.

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