Surgery Wrongfully Performed On Baby

This Tennessee mom is allgedly planning to sue after doctors performed a major surgery on her baby that was meant for another little one.

Mother Jennifer Melton thought doctors were just taking her newborn son Nate for a typical exam, according to TIME. However, just a day after he was born, doctors mistakenly performed a "tongue clipping" procedure on him that was meant for another baby.

The procedure, medically known as frenulectomy, involves clipping a flap of skin that connects the mouth and tongue to provide a freer range of motion.

The tissue that connects them is known as the lingual frenulum, and in some children, it may be too tight--resulting in problems with speech and eating. Furthermore, a tight frenulum may also interfere with breastfeeding and even cause discomfort for the mother, according to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter.

Melton and her husband Domonique Harper were not consulted regarding the procedure and their son's tongue was normal, according to the New York Daily News.

"It's recklessness. There's no excuse for cutting on a healthy child. There's no excuse for mixing up babies at a hospital," family attorney Clint Kelly told News Channel 5.

Related Articles

Information On Rare Syndrome Goes Viral With Post Of Baby's Toe

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).