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Award For N.J. Hospital Draws Anger

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Jan 2, 2008 11:58 pm US/Eastern

Award For N.J. Hospital Draws Anger

Reporting
Valerie Levesque
WOODBURY, N.J. (CBS 3) ― For the families of two New Jersey teachers who died days apart after giving birth at the same hospital, the painful memories are being rekindled all over again. The hospital involved has just received a child birthing award.

The family of Valerie Scythes spent their first Christmas without her. She died after having a cesarean section at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury this past spring.

Now the hospital is being honored and Valerie's family simply can not understand why.

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. But 35-year-old Valerie Scythes died just days after giving birth to her daughter at Underwood Hospital.

She had a c-section and went into a coma. She died on March 28.

Valerie was a special education teacher at Avon Elementary School in Barrington, New Jersey.

Just 15 days after Valerie's death, one of her friends and colleagues, another special education teacher at the school, went to Underwood to have a baby.

Melissa Farah, 28, had a daughter as well, but died on April 12 after having a c-section.

"I just think it's appalling to be honest, it's just very tragic," Valerie's sister Natalie Thoma said.

Recently, the Johnson and Johnson company awarded Underwood Hospital its childbirth nursing award. Seven hospitals in the country were selected.

According to a press release from Underwood, criteria for the award included the commitment to improving the health of women and newborns.

"They do not deserve that award -- how do you have two deaths of two young girls with no problems who it is supposed to be the happiest times of their lives, both having their first child, and you are going to give them an award for great care and great nurses when they clearly didn't see signs that they should have seen," Natalie said.

Underwood Hospital had no comment to CBS 3, other than sending the press release that was issued with the award.

A Johnson and Johnson spokesman said the company would get back to CBS 3.

Both families involved have hired attorneys.


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