20 Jun 2005

Inquest ordered in Samoa into death of child put into care before being adopted

7:09 am on 20 June 2005

Authorities in Samoa have ordered an inquest into the death of a one-year-old baby awaiting adoption by a US adoption agency, Focus on Children

The baby girl's natural parents have claimed that their daughter died as a result of malnutrition after staying at a so-called "nanny house" awaiting adoption.

They say they had earlier removed the girl and three other children from the "nanny house" because of concerns over their condition.

But a woman looking after the children says the little girl was already sick when she arrived.

A representative of Focus on Children - one of two adoption agencies working in Samoa - says the organisation was shocked to hear of the infant's death.