Anne Arundel County prosecutors have been asked to help Anne Arundel Medical Center lawyers investigate how three babies in the critical care nursery got opiates in their systems.
State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee and investigator David Cordle met yesterday with Warren Sanger and Peter Bower, lawyers hired by the hospital.
"It is not a criminal investigation at this point," Mr. Weathersbee said. "We are all trying to determine what happened. If it should turn out to be criminal, we want to make sure the evidence has been gathered properly."
Neither Mr. Sanger nor Mr. Bower could be reached for comment.
The three babies, none of whom had been prescribed opiates, suffered respiratory difficulties Jan. 31 and had to be placed on ventilators. Preliminary tests show that the drug did not come from tainted medical supplies or their mothers, leaving open the possibility that the drugs were given to the babies directly.
Two of the babies were still hospitalized yesterday in stable condition, officials said. Hospital administrators expect to get test results today that will determine the type of opiate and the origin of the drug.
The case also is being monitored by the state health department.
Carol Benner, director of the office of licensing and certification programs -- which monitors hospitals and other health facilities -- said she has been in daily contact with the hospital. Ms. Benner said that once all the facts are in late this week or early next rTC week, representatives of her office plan to meet with hospital officials.
Under federal law, Ms. Benner's office can conduct its own investigation, but she said she has not yet invoked that authority.
Mr. Sanger and Mr. Bower, who specialize in medical malpractice, arrived from New York yesterday and began reviewing records. They are likely to interview hospital staff today. Mr. Weathersbee said Mr. Cordle will be present during all parts of the investigation.
Kristin Riggin, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office, said the office has received dozens of calls from people who are concerned about the possibility that the babies were drugged intentionally.
Meanwhile, parents whose children were born at the hospital that week are worried. Lorie Webber, 33, gave birth to her daughter, Karin, Jan. 30. She said they received good care and she was unaware of any problem until she saw media reports.
"You panic. You say, 'Oh my goodness, is my baby acting all right?' " said the Annapolis woman, whose husband immediately contacted the hospital. But a hospital pediatrician told them their infant -- who wasn't in the critical care nursery -- was not at risk.
Jennifer Bullen, a Crofton mother who gave birth Jan. 25, began calling the hospital with questions because her child had been in the critical care nursery just days before the incident. Doctors examined the girl and found no traces of opiates. But Mrs. Bullen still wants answers.
"They're not telling us anything," she complained.