Donna probably hadn’t been affiliated with this hospital at the time of Leah’s birth, so the fact that Leah had been given to the Montgomery family couldn’t reflect poorly on Donna personally. Yet it could reflect very poorly on the hospital as a whole—of which Donna was now the head.

“As you’ll see, my birth certificate shows that I was born to Erica and Todd Montgomery, the two people who raised me.” She relayed the events surrounding her mom’s labor and delivery.

Donna extracted the documents from the envelope and examined them. “Nowadays we take extreme precautions to make sure that this doesn’t happen.”

Donna’s statement implied that at the time of Leah’s birth, precautions may not have been quite so extreme.

Sebastian remained silent, intensity flowing from him.

As soon as Donna set down the papers, Leah spoke. “I’d like access to the hospital records concerning my birth. Are those records still in existence?”

“They are.”

Relief relaxed Leah’s spine.

“We keep old records off-site with a data management company,” Donna said. “We’ll simply need for you to fill out a records request form and for your mother to sign a waiver. A few days later we can have them here for you. You’re welcome to look at the original documents. Or we can provide print copies or copies in an electronic format.”

“I’d also like to examine the records of the other baby girls born on my birthday so that I can figure out who my biological parents are.”

Donna mounded her hands on top of her desk—a relaxed posture. However, white rimmed the edges of her fingertips, which informed Leah that her hands were exerting pressure. “That, I cannot do. You’ll understand that our patients’ records are kept in strictest privacy.”

“Of course,” Sebastian replied smoothly. “And you’ll understand that in sending two children home with the wrong parents, a negligent act was committed. If we return with a court order granting us access to the records, will you allow us to view them?”

“Should you return with a court order, I’ll be more than glad to cooperate with you as fully as the law permits.” Her attention settled on Leah. “However, it’s extremely unlikely that a judge will release the records of every baby girl born on your birthday. HIPAA laws are stringent. Almost certainly, you’ll have to show the judge why you believe yourself to be the biological daughter of, for example, John and Jane Doe. If you make a compelling case, the judge may release to you the records of only Baby Girl Doe, born here on your birth date.”