A Surrey woman is now facing criminal charges following a deeply unsettling incident at a local hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, where she is accused of holding three vulnerable infants.
Charges Laid in Hospital Intrusion
Lindsey Susan Hirtreiter, 35, has been charged with three counts of assault in connection with the events that unfolded at Surrey Memorial Hospital. According to police, the incident occurred on October 28, when Hirtreiter allegedly entered the hospital, accessed the secure NICU, removed her shirt, and held three separate babies skin-to-skin.
How the Incident Unfolded
The situation came to light when an alert staff member noticed the unauthorized individual in the sensitive care unit. Security was immediately notified, leading to Hirtreiter's removal from the hospital premises. Authorities have confirmed a critical detail: the three babies involved are not related to each other nor to the accused woman.
In explaining the assault charges, police referenced the Criminal Code definition, which includes the application of force to another person without their consent. This legal interpretation forms the basis for the allegations in this highly unusual case.
Hospital Response and Family Support
Fraser Health officials have acknowledged the breach, describing it as "highly unusual." The health authority emphasized that the families of the affected infants have been provided with support in the aftermath of the event. The case has raised inevitable questions about security protocols in critical hospital areas designed to protect society's most fragile patients.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the paramount importance of security in neonatal intensive care units, where the safety of premature and ill newborns is the highest priority.
