JEDDAH – A young woman who was admitted to a hospital to give birth had to undergo a hysterectomy 20 hours after delivery. Nada, 17, also developed cardiac and pulmonary disorders due to alleged medical errors made by doctors at the private hospital. The Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah has formed a committee to investigate the case. Ahmad Aal Shalawee, Nada's husband, said he took his wife to the hospital where she used to receive prenatal care. After being discharged from the delivery room, doctors told him that his wife had minor bleeding and the female doctor had bandaged the bleeding area. Nada was taken to the women's ward. “Ten hours later my wife fainted and fell to the floor. Fortunately I was with her. I called the nurses and the doctor on duty. The female doctor who supervised the case was also called. She asked the nurses to remove the gauze bandage.” When doctors removed the gauze blood came gushing out, the husband said. Nada was rushed to the operation room and a laparoscopy was done. The hospital asked the husband to try to provide large quantities of blood to compensate for the amounts lost during bleeding. Nada's blood level plummeted to 1.7 when it should have been around 12, which is the normal range. With the help of his friends and relatives, Shalawee was able to bring 30 blood bags. Over 90 blood bags were used in the blood transfusion but Nada's condition had not improved. “The doctor stepped out of the operating room and told me that my wife's life was on line because she had lost large amounts of blood. He asked me to sign an approval form for a hysterectomy.” After the operation, Nada developed complications, fever and cardiac dysrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). She remained in the ICU for several days after which she was discharged with heart and lungs medications. Shalawee said the doctors at the hospital had to use the help of outside consultants because they did not know how to deal with his wife's case. But it was too late as the damage was already done. He was shocked when the hospital asked him to pay the external consultation fees after all the medical errors committed. He refused and demanded that all negligent doctors should be punished for the many medical errors made in the hospital. He accused the hospital of recruiting unqualified doctors who had little regard for patients' welfare. Dr. Sami Badawood, director of Health Affairs director, said the husband lodged a complaint with the directorate and a committee was formed to investigate. Badawood said the hospital should have contacted the directorate's emergency unit working around the clock to obtain blood. Severe penalties will be imposed on doctors and the hospital if the allegations of negligence and medical errors were proved, said Dr. Badawood. — SG
