Woman sues NWRHA after losing baby

AN AROUCA woman has filed a writ against the North West Regional Health Authority for negligence, contending that a shortage of doctors at the Mount Hope Maternity Hospital in 2001 led to her losing her baby and womb, since she was not attended to by a doctor.

Rajdaye Victor, 26, filed the writ yesterday, stating she experienced labour pains on September 19, 2001, and was told by nurses at the hospital to “walk with her bag.” But on reaching the hospital, there were no doctors in the Maternity Department to attend to her.   

According to the writ filed in the Sub-Registry, San Fernando, by attorney Anand Ramlogan, Victor stated, “a doctor told me at the Emergency Department there was a shortage of doctors at the hospital.” Victor stated that after being examined by a nurse, she was told that her foetus was healthy and she could return home. But on September 21, the writ stated, Victor went into labour and returned to the hospital. Again she was discharged. The following day, the writ stated, Victor was in great pain and returned to the Maternity Ward where a midwife, upon examination, told her, “I have a big healthy baby,” whose heartbeat was excellent.

Victor further stated, in her writ, that she waited all day for medical attention but no doctor was in attendance. “I begged for a doctor to see me but no one saw me. Suddenly, I feel the foetus started to push upwards,” Victor stated in her writ. The woman alleged that the baby ruptured her womb. Doctors eventually attended to Victor, the writ stated, and discovered that the baby had died. Victor is claiming damages for negligence arising out of her contention that there ought to have been a doctor to administer adequate care given her state of pregnancy at the time.