Rebecca Hernandez
Reference: PXTL-CY4W-XESA-QQVH
- Outcome
- Baby Returned
- Outcome detail
- Reunited after the test was shown to be a false positive
- Jurisdiction
- Huntsville, AL, United States
- Year
- 2020
- Account type
- Mother's Account
Quick summary
- Quick summary
- Alabama DHR took Rebecca's healthy newborn son four hours after birth because of a positive opiate test, which turned out to be poppy seed bread.
Full story
- Full story
- Rebecca Hernandez of Huntsville gave birth to a healthy boy at Crestwood Medical Center and was drug tested. When the test was positive for opiates, staff called the Alabama Department of Human Resources, which took the baby four hours after delivery. Her doctor, Yashica Robinson, learned she had eaten poppy seed bread the day before; further tests proved she had no opiates in her system and she was reunited with her son. 'A newborn baby has to be close to mom,' she said.
Where
- Hospital
- Crestwood Medical Center
- Agency
- Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR)
- City
- Huntsville
- State
- AL
- Country
- United States
- First Nations
- Not Stated
The removal
- When the baby was taken
- At Birth (Delivery Room)
- Baby's age when taken
- 4 hours
- Where the baby was taken from
- Maternity Ward
- Stated reasons
- Drug Or Alcohol TestFalse-Positive Drug Test
- How it was done
- Emergency Removal Without Order
Support after
- Grief counselling offered
- Not Stated
Getting baby back
- Did she get her baby back
- Yes
- Where the baby is now
- Returned To Mother
People, hospitals and agencies
| Name | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Yashica Robinson | Doctor | Mother's own doctor |
Official response
- Official response
- Crestwood Medical Center would not say why she was tested, saying it is 'committed to following the law and regulatory requirements'.