My brother's girlfriend was pregnant, she was about 4 months along, and had made about 3 visits to a small local clinic. She started having alot of stomach pain and cramps, so she visited the clinic again. She asked the lady that was performing her ultra-sound if the pain she was feeling ab-normal. The lady snapped at her and told her, "Of course it's normal, that's how it is for everybody's 1st pregnancy, don't you read up on this stuff?" The lady started to push down on my brother's girlfriend's belly really hard, and she started telling the lady that she was hurting her. Of course, the lady continued and ignored her. So my brother's girlfriend comes home with black and white pictures of the baby from the ultrasound, and everyone is super excited. About 6 days later, I get a phone call from my brother's girlfriend at 3am and I instantly had this terrible feeling. She told me she was rushed to the emergency room because she started bleeding really bad.
2007-11-08 21:53:28 · 6 answers · asked by xsphattygurl 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
She told me the doctors would speak to her soon and let her know what the situation was. She called me back about 15 mins. later and was hysterical. I figured the worse, and started crying too! She told me the doctors told her that after performing an ultra-sound, they determined that she has been carrying a dead baby for the past several weeks. I guess the baby started to decompose, and her body rejected it, that's why she had so much pain and cramps. The 1st thing that came to my mind was...the local clinic had performed an ultra-sound on her 6 days ago, and told her everything was fine! The hospital did what they had to do, and removed everything left inside of her. A few days later, she returns to the clinic to retrieve some information. She wanted to know what the lady's name was, that was performing the ultra-sound on her. Every single doctor and nurse assistant refused to give up that lady's name! They kept saying, "Why do you want to know her name? What's the problem?"
2007-11-08 22:02:45 · update #1
Everytime she tried approaching a staff member, they would walk away from her...as though they knew that they had messed up real bad, and didn't want to deal with her. She tried to act casual and say, "Oh nothing, she performed an ultra-sound on me, and I just wanted to know what her name was, because I noticed she wasn't wearing a name tag." Our families are devasted. Everyone basically ignored her, she started feeling uncomfortable, so she left. At this point, we don't have anything. No names, no cooperation, nothing. What steps can we take to report this clinic? Who know's how many other incidents like this has occured.
2007-11-08 22:10:16 · update #2
First of all, she should request all of her medical records from that clinic. They have to release it to her. I can't believe they told her everything is fine. Even a dopplar would have shown there was no heartbeat, much less an ultrasound.
Secondly, after she has the records in hand (they should have the name of the lady who did the ultrasound) she can go to a lawyer with her case.
So sorry about the loss of the baby!
2007-11-10 08:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very sad story, and I am so sorry for her and your loss. Your sis-in-law was treated badly, and she needs to write down in detail all that has happened so that she can file a formal complaint when she is recovered. Women need to speak up about issues like this; it is the only way that maternity care and women's health care will improve.
From your description, it doesn't sound like the ultrasound at the clinic CAUSED the baby's death, but it does sound like the pain and cramps she had were a signal that something was happening to the baby, or the baby had already died. It was such an early point in pregnancy that there would have been nothing that could be done even if she had been able to get medical staff to buy in to her worries. The staff WAS negligent, however, in not reporting her baby's death after the ultrasound, IF they were aware of it. Unfortunately, even the best tech can sometimes miss even something of this magnitude. I know that is no consolation at this time. My biggest concern is the staff not taking her complaints seriously.
Your family needs to support each other and help your brother's girlfriend to heal emotionally and physically, thru prayer, good nutrition and time. She may feel, in addition to her grief, guilt that "had she done more, said more, spoken up more" her baby would still be alive. She needs to be reassured that she did what she could, and there is little chance it could have been prevented...unfortunately some babies die, just as some healthy 20 year olds die, with no warning signs.
My thoughts are with you all.
2007-11-09 07:41:03 · answer #2 · answered by Amy G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the hospital/clinic and ask to speak with the complaints dept...then write a formal letter of complaint and insist that something be done about this individual...did the baby survive? That's terrible in this day and age that technicians/medical "professionals" can act like that. I'd take it much further if I were that couple.
just read the additinal details...I'm so sorry the baby died...and the lady should have detected that in her ultrasound...I wouldn't rest until she was sacked...that's negligance...simple as that...awful...even go to a solicitor and see where you could take things legally.
This is so horrendous...NAME and SHAME
2007-11-09 06:03:52 · answer #3 · answered by Frank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She needs to contact a lawyer and ask then then go and get all her records from that clinic
2007-11-09 06:09:08 · answer #4 · answered by ஐ♥Julian'sMommy♥ஐ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call the police and file a assult charge. then contact a lawer. you can check with the AMA to see if they are being investigated.
2007-11-09 06:08:22 · answer #5 · answered by JC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would be suing a bunch of people.......
2007-11-09 06:06:07 · answer #6 · answered by nightbutterfly69 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋