• Home

Complaint filed over ‘death’ of unborn child

A Pakistani couple has alleged that the delay in initiating treatment on the part of the gynaecologist at the hospital led to death of their full term baby just before the mother was due to give birth on May 5. Till then, the pregnancy was normal, they say.

A medical negligence complaint has been lodged with the Ministry of Health against the doctor. The couple, being represented by the woman’s brother have accused the gynaecologist of not performing the necessary life saving operation despite a scan that showed that the baby did not have any heart beat.

“My sister went for a routine antenatal on April 19 when her doctor referred her to the radiologist for a scan since she had a doubt,” said the brother Mohammed Taqi.

“However, it was late in the evening and the radiology section was closed, so the doctor asked us to come back on April 25,” he said.

Taqi also said that his sister started having contractions the next day and was rushed to the hospital by evening.

“We reached at 6.30pm and an hour later the scan was done and we were told that the doctors could not detect a heartbeat,” he said. However, during this waiting time, the mother felt movement of her child and we informed the doctor, said Taqi. “We were still asked to wait until 9.30pm when another scan confirmed that the child had died in the womb,” he added.

According to the brother, his sister went into a shock upon hearing the news and insisted that a c-section be done to deliver the child to save it.

“This request was also turned down by the doctor and my sister was sent home and asked to wait for contractions again,” he said, adding that the doctor asked them to visit after two days to give blood samples to check for blood toxicity that could be caused due to the child’s death.

Taqi, however, said by 2am the next morning they had to return to the hospital since his sister could not bear the pain anymore. “The doctor arrived by 5.30am and said she could give no reason for the baby’s death.”

“After the surgery, she explained to us that the baby had been strangulated by the umbilical cord and also had some blood clot related complications,” a statement, the doctor kept changing, he alleged.

“How did the doctor not find out that the cord was choking the child if she had been carrying out regular antenatal on my sister since her seventh month,” he said. Taqi also accused the doctor of not referring the patient to another radiologist if she suspected something amiss during the first scan.

According to the complainant, the hospital administration held a meeting with them and asked them to file a written complaint against the doctor.

“I had a meeting with them and they assured me that if I filed a written complaint, they would suspend the doctor,” the brother said. “I have been informed now that the doctor has been suspended temporarily for ‘misbehaving’ and not for negligence,” he said.

A short statement from the hospital read, “The patient’s treatment in the hospital was as per medical guidelines. The patient’s brother has indicated concerns which we are awaiting and will address.” The hospital, however, refused to give any information regarding status of the doctor.

An official from the Sharjah Medical District where the case has been filed said a committee was investigating the issue.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE