Hospitals to face greater scrutiny
Source: Xinhua |
November 6, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A HOSPITAL in Guangdong Province that mistakenly diagnosed a premature baby as a stillbirth has stoked public anger and stirred a new round of debate regarding the country's hospital management.
The hospital's vice director and obstetrical director have been removed from their posts while the doctor on duty at the time of the incident and the nurses involved have all been suspended and are under investigation.
Liu Dongmei, a 22-year-old mother, gave birth to a baby in the 32nd week of her pregnancy with the help of two nurses on October 26 at Nanhai Red Cross Hospital in Foshan City. Liu was informed that she had given birth to a stillborn baby girl. The baby was then wrapped in a plastic bag and discarded in a restroom by the nurses. Half an hour later, Liu's family rushed to the hospital and asked about the baby.
"The infant was still alive and it was a boy," said Wang Heping, Liu's sister-in-law.
The baby boy was moved to another maternity hospital on Friday where doctors said he is in a stable condition.
Huang Lichuan, director of the Nanhai hospital's department of obstetrics and gynecology, confessed that the nurses had mistakenly diagnosed the stillbirth due to a "shortage of experience."
Wang Haizhang, Liu's husband, said that they called the doctor on duty many times that night, but no one came to help them.
Hospital authorities said the doctor on duty was treating a patient with a massive hemorrhage at the time.
Chen Anwei, chief physician at the Obstetric Critical Care Center of Guangzhou, said labor shortages are common in China's hospitals, but that the "reasonable deployment of staff" is the key to solving the problem.
Local health authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Those responsible for the accident failed to follow proper procedures during the birth, as a doctor is supposed to be present at that time, said Pan Yongtong, standing deputy director of the health department of Nanhai District, where the hospital is located.
Zhang Shuitang, chief physician at a neonatal center, said infants may only be declared dead if they do not breathe or exhibit heart palpitations after 10 minutes of resuscitation following birth.
The hospital's vice director and obstetrical director have been removed from their posts while the doctor on duty at the time of the incident and the nurses involved have all been suspended and are under investigation.
Liu Dongmei, a 22-year-old mother, gave birth to a baby in the 32nd week of her pregnancy with the help of two nurses on October 26 at Nanhai Red Cross Hospital in Foshan City. Liu was informed that she had given birth to a stillborn baby girl. The baby was then wrapped in a plastic bag and discarded in a restroom by the nurses. Half an hour later, Liu's family rushed to the hospital and asked about the baby.
"The infant was still alive and it was a boy," said Wang Heping, Liu's sister-in-law.
The baby boy was moved to another maternity hospital on Friday where doctors said he is in a stable condition.
Huang Lichuan, director of the Nanhai hospital's department of obstetrics and gynecology, confessed that the nurses had mistakenly diagnosed the stillbirth due to a "shortage of experience."
Wang Haizhang, Liu's husband, said that they called the doctor on duty many times that night, but no one came to help them.
Hospital authorities said the doctor on duty was treating a patient with a massive hemorrhage at the time.
Chen Anwei, chief physician at the Obstetric Critical Care Center of Guangzhou, said labor shortages are common in China's hospitals, but that the "reasonable deployment of staff" is the key to solving the problem.
Local health authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Those responsible for the accident failed to follow proper procedures during the birth, as a doctor is supposed to be present at that time, said Pan Yongtong, standing deputy director of the health department of Nanhai District, where the hospital is located.
Zhang Shuitang, chief physician at a neonatal center, said infants may only be declared dead if they do not breathe or exhibit heart palpitations after 10 minutes of resuscitation following birth.
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