Mum Says Unborn Baby Died As Docs Did COVID Test 1st

13-08-2020

2020

wacky and real life

A woman and her partner have denounced a Peruvian hospital who they say let their unborn baby die because medical staff prioritised doing a COVID-19 test to make sure they were safe to treat leaving them waiting two hours to see a doctor. The grieving couple also reported receiving a bodiless coffin which had the mother's placenta inside, instead of their baby, although the hospital insists they handed over the body. The eight-month-pregnant woman, identified as Maritza and her partner Julio, went to the San Juan de Lurigancho hospital located in the Peruvian capital city of Lima on the morning of Friday 7th August. According to national newspaper Peru21, the parents had to be rushed to the hospital when Maritza realised she was losing fluid. Reportedly it was not until two hours later that the pregnant woman was examined by a doctor who told her the baby was without vital signs. In statements collected by Peru21, Maritza said: "They committed negligence, they prioritised me taking a quick test for COVID-19, despite being able to see the liquid escaping from the baby who was fighting to survive. “They could have been more humane and attended to him. But they preferred to do the test on me whilst my son died right there.” At around 6:00 pm that afternoon, hospital staff performed a cesarean to extract the body of her stillborn son and Maritza was discharged after a little coffin was given to the parents. According to Peru21, it was not until the parents were preparing to carry out the wake of the child they realised the absence of the body. The coffin reportedly only contained a plastic container with Maritza's placenta inside. Julio told Peru21: “It's outrageous." The hospital responded in an official statement to say that the baby was already dead when they examined the mother and that the body of the baby was given to the father before they left the hospital for burial. The hospital management also said that they will make all the necessary information available to the authorities for the pertinent investigations. There is no further news as to whether the parents are planning to press charges or if an investigation is underway. (T4/ends)