The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) is analyzing the death of a baby at the end of pregnancy, in Coimbra, after the family accused the hospital of negligence and lack of medical assistance, according to the regulator.
The case reported this Tuesday, November 4th, by Morning Mail occurred at the Daniel de Matos Maternity Hospital, integrated into the Local Health Unit (ULS) of Coimbra, where the 43-year-old pregnant woman was sent because she felt unwell
According to the newspaper, the pregnant woman was at the end of her pregnancy and was monitored at the Bissaya Barreto maternity ward, where she had her last consultation on Thursday without any type of problem being detected.
O Morning Mail adds that the family accuses the hospital of negligence and lack of medical assistance and that it will file a complaint against ULS in Coimbra
Contacted by Lusa, ERS stated that “it became aware of the situation through news broadcast in the media, and is analyzing the situation within the scope of an ongoing administrative procedure”.
Also contacted by Lusa, the ULS of Coimbra reported that a pregnant woman aged 37 weeks and 3 days, after an episode of bleeding at home, was admitted on November 1st, at 10:29 pm, at the emergency department of the Dr. Daniel de Matos Maternity Hospital.
“It was a pregnant woman being followed at the Bissaya Barreto Maternity Hospital (MBB), with adequate surveillance and evolution”, says the institution, adding that the user had had a consultation on October 29, with complete clinical evaluation, ultrasound and cardiotocography, with all parameters within normal limits.
According to the ULS, when the pregnant woman arrived at the emergency room, it was decided to admit her, as well as to carry out complementary diagnostic tests, indicated in this context, with cardiotocography detecting “absence of fetal vitality, immediately confirmed through ultrasound”.
He adds that a cesarean section was performed, due to prior clinical indication due to pre-existing gynecological pathology, and that “ultrasound and geneticist data confirmed signs of previous fetal death”.
“As protocoled in these situations, an anatomopathological study was launched, the results of which are awaited”, he adds.
The ULS emphasizes that “the pregnant woman was duly informed of the situation and offered psychological support”.
According to the institution, the patient is progressing well post-operatively, remaining hospitalized and properly monitored.
“The Coimbra ULS expresses sincere empathy and solidarity with the mother and family”, it states in the written response to Lusa.
The CM says that, over the weekend, the woman felt unwell and was taken to the Daniel de Matos maternity ward, where she says the baby’s vital signs were fine, after being admitted there, but she would have been without any type of assistance and monitoring for a long time.
When she was seen again by the medical team, she was told that the baby was dead and she waited for several hours for them to remove him from her womb. After that, the pregnant woman had complications and went to the operating room this Monday, according to her sister Vera Carvalho.