“What mistake?”
Samar opened a folder and removed several copies of the old ultrasound images.
“From the beginning, everyone focused on the number seven. But some of the images were difficult to interpret. Several structures overlapped, and the reports were repeatedly copied forward without a complete independent review.”
“Are you saying the doctors miscounted?” I asked.
“I’m saying the records cannot establish the true number of fetuses with the certainty everyone assumed.”
Mamdouh shook his head.
“But nine children were delivered.”
“Yes,” Samar replied. “And at least one additional newborn was transferred without a proper identification record.”
She paused before continuing.
“When I checked the records, I found evidence that more than one newborn might have been assigned temporary or duplicated identification information. I tried to alert the hospital, but the person responsible for reviewing the records refused to investigate.”
“Who?” Dr. Hisham asked.
Samar looked at him.
“The physician who conducted your earliest examinations.”
