The mother of a six-month-old baby was forced to spend the night in a cell after medics mistook her son’s birthmarks for bruises from abuse.

Following safeguarding protocol, medical staff handed Laxmi Thapa – a Nepalese national living in Basingstoke to the police accused of abuse. Thapa said she was treated “like a criminal” after her son’s birthmarks were mistaken for bruising.

Laxmi Thapa‘s son was born with blue spot – blue-grey markings common on babies with brown or black skin.

Ms Thapa had taken her baby to her GP in May after becoming concerned that the blue spot markings had become darker, and he had developed new ones.

Her son’s existing blue spot – sometimes known as Mongolian blue spot – on several parts of his body had been noted in his medical records, following his birth in November.

Ms Thapa was arrested at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital where she was referred by her GP on suspicion of actual bodily harm assault and neglect of her baby.

The 29-year-old, who was breastfeeding at the time, spent 20 hours in a cell at Basingstoke Police Station until being released pending a medical report.

Birthmark

“It was hard for me,” she said.

“I have never been separated from my baby since his birth.

“At that time, I was like a criminal. I stayed overnight in a cell like a criminal.

“Without medical proof, they put me in custody.”

Her baby was looked after by the hospital while she was detained, and she was permitted to express milk to allow him to be fed.

After her release, a social services home visit determined her son was not in danger.

A series of scans later showed no skeletal injuries, and a dermatologist determined the markings were blue spot and not bruises. Police confirmed no assault had taken place.

Campaigners have called for better awareness of the condition and said misdiagnosis can be “devastating” for wrongly accused families.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it could not comment on individual cases but said staff “will have followed guidelines”.

“Safeguarding babies and children will always take priority,” it said.

“Differentiating between suspected bruising and Mongolian blue spot is complex, and protocols have to be followed.”

Ms Thapa said she had received a verbal apology from a doctor at the hospital.

She is working with local campaign group Basingstoke Unites Against Racism on an official complaint.