Hospital Lab Worker Bit Boy, Parents Say

INDIANAPOLIS -- A hospital lab technician bit a boy's shoulder as another technician tried to draw blood from his arm, his parents told police.

The technician, who worked for a subcontractor that does blood work for St. Vincent Hospital, was fired after last week's incident involving 3-year-old Victor Buntin, the hospital said.

"Taking a bite out of him like he's an apple -- this is heinous," Victor's father, James Buntin, told 6News' Rafael Sanchez on Tuesday.

Victor's mother, Faith Buntin, took him to St. Vincent on Friday for a blood test because of recent recalls of toys involving lead. She said that as a lab technician restrained Victor so that another technician could draw blood, the worker restraining Victor put her mouth on the boy's shoulder.

"I looked at her like that was the craziest thing that I'd ever seen," Faith Buntin said. "She looked at me and smiled and said, 'Oh, it was just a play bite. He's not hurt.'"

Faith Buntin said she let it go because her son was crying, ostensibly over the testing. Back at home, she said, she saw teeth marks on his left shoulder.

Her husband drove the child back to the hospital, where he was prescribed antibiotics.

The family filed a report with Indianapolis police and is seeking criminal charges. A detective has been assigned to the case, Sanchez reported.

Information on why the child was bitten wasn't available.

Earlier, TheIndyChannel.com incorrectly reported that the technician accused of biting Victor was the person who was trying to draw blood from his arm.

St. Vincent spokesman Johnny Smith said the hospital is "reviewing the capabilities" of the employees of the subcontractor, Mid America Clinical Laboratories.

"We're tying to determine the best approach," Smith said. "It's just an unfortunate and sad situation, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."

Victor will be tested over the next few months to see whether the bite transmitted any disease, his parents said.