Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah has formed a special medical committee to investigate an alleged medical error that occurred when a 26-year-old woman gave birth at a private polyclinic in the city. The young woman, who requested anonymity, recalled the horrifying experience. “I felt some pain while I was in the holy sites during Eid Al-Adha, so I went to a private polyclinic opposite the General Court in Jeddah to conduct a routine check-up but a female doctor forced me to enter the delivery room. “When I told her I was not feeling labor pains, she told me that I might give birth to my baby on the road if I refused to deliver at present. She gave me an induced labor injection and instructed me to sit in the polyclinic until I delivered my baby.” She further said, “After a normal delivery, I felt severe pain that prevented me from carrying my baby. When I informed my husband, we returned to the polyclinic and I learned that the female doctor had committed an error by making a 3.5 cm incision.” Abu Sarah, the young woman's husband, said he and his wife then went to a private hospital where the couple was told doctors would have to operate on his wife. The cost of the operation was SR90,000. Abu Sarah demanded that the polyclinic bear the expenses since a doctor employed by the clinic committed the medical error. The spokesman for the Directorate of Health Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Sahafi, said the investigation committee will have a consultant in gynecology and obstetrics. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health Affairs in Madinah has opened an investigation into the death of a security guard who was admitted to a hospital complaining of severe pain. Doctors discovered a stone in Awwad Al-Sahli's ureter and suggested he undergo a minor operation. When doctors were unable to locate the stone, they suggested surgery. The man died due to complications during surgery. The directorate has placed a travel ban on the doctors who treated Al-Sahli until investigations are over.
