Doctors blame newborn for gash on her face

7 October 2020 04:32 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Doctors allegedly attempted to cover up malpractice

Doctors had accidentally slashed the baby’s cheek with a scalpel during an emergency C-section surgery

The parents, who had opted for a normal delivery, had been suddenly informed that the baby needs to be delivered through an emergency C-Section

When Mr. Ishara was finally allowed to visit his wife at the ward, he met a hostile staff

A baby born on September 21 at the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital in Gampaha has suffered a gash on her face, which her parents claim, is a result of medical negligence.
First time parents Mr. Ishara Udayanga and his wife were shocked to find a plaster covering a cut on their baby girl’s face, after doctors had accidentally slashed the baby’s cheek with a scalpel during an emergency C-section surgery.

Mr. Ishara and his wife had consulted a reputed Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Bandaranayake Private Hospital in Gampaha. Mr. Ishara says that their hope, like any new parent, was that their baby would be delivered safely. Therefore they sought the expert consultancy of this doctor and had complete faith in him.
The expectant mother was admitted to the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital for the delivery. However, the parents-to-be soon learned that all was not as it seemed at this hospital.

“After some routine scans and tests, we were informed that all was as expected. The baby was healthy and fine,” the father recalled. However the parents, who had opted for a normal delivery, had been suddenly informed that the baby needs to be delivered through an emergency C-Section. “The doctor in charge was not the doctor we had consulted. In fact this new doctor had been quite rude to my wife, who had been very scared at the time and had refused to undergo a C-Section. I was never consulted by the surgeon in making this decision,” he said.
“When she told the doctor that she cannot undergo surgery, the doctor had scolded her and told her to do as she pleases. My wife had not even been given an explanation as to why a surgery was needed at that time. She had simply been scared,” Mr. Ishara said.

The scared mother had then been approached by nurses and a midwife, who had explained to her the gravity of the situation. “Within a few minutes my wife had agreed to undergo surgery, after understanding why it was required,” Mr. Ishara said.

“It is during this time they said that the baby had turned, and was therefore responsible for the injury,” the father who had not been informed of any of these complications said. “My wife said that they had taken some time to show her the baby after the delivery, and she had naturally been worried. But she was not in a state to question anyone.”

When Mr. Ishara was finally allowed to visit his wife at the ward, he met a hostile staff at the ward, who had instructed him to ‘teach his wife’. “They told me that my wife had created a scene and that she needs to be taught. I couldn’t understand what they meant or what was going on, so I just smiled,” he recollected.
It was when the new father first saw his newborn daughter, that he saw a big plaster across the baby’s cheek. “I was worried, I asked them what this plaster was doing on my child’s face. I asked my wife too. But she didn’t know enough. The staff acted as if it was a small injury, and nothing to be concerned about.”

In the days that followed Mr. Ishara said that the doctors at the hospital attempted to conceal the injury to the newborn’s face and only revealed the reason after questioning. “My wife wasn’t in a state to comprehend what had happened. We thought it was a slight bruise. They said that due to the delay in taking a decision over surgery, the baby had turned inside the womb. They said that an initial scan had revealed the baby to be surrounded by sufficient fluids in the water bag, but during the surgery, there had been no water, resulting in a cut to my baby’s face,” he said.

Mr. Ishara added that the Obstetrician and Gynaecologist whom the parents had consulted prior to the delivery had not been present during the surgery. “The doctor asked me to visit him at the Bandaranayake Private Hospital after the incident, where he asked me to withdraw the complaint which I made,” he said. The hospital staff had also failed to give the records of the baby’s delivery details, Mr. Ishara claimed.
The Medical Superintendent of the Wathupitiwala Hospital speaking to the Daily Mirror confirmed that a complaint had been recorded with the hospital, adding that an internal investigation was underway. The matter has also been brought to the attention of the Provincial Director of Health Services, he said.

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Comments - 20

Father of an angel Wednesday, 07 October 2020 12:52 PM

So pathetic, this little angel born on my birthday....

Mr George Mather Wednesday, 07 October 2020 01:27 PM

If this is an injury caused the by the baby turning in the womb, it is a first. It is very clear and evident that the injury is related to the C section. The hospital staff should be held responsible for the negligence that has caused this to happen. This has happened when an incision was performed in the deeper layers of the womb. Treating the mother like this is beyond my belief. The poor baby had to suffer this in the first few hours of being born. The hospital and the surgeon should be responsible and not cover up this negligence.

Ranaweera Wednesday, 07 October 2020 01:32 PM

Doctors making money why most child births in sri lanks are now c section. Investigate this. more money for c section.

Sirisena Sattambige Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:15 PM

This has happened in Wathupitiwala Base Hospital. All operations inclucing C-Section are free in all government hospitals. Have you ever been to school? Or are can't you read

mano Wednesday, 07 October 2020 04:07 PM

Maybe not for money but they do have to do a number of surgeries as trainees. I suggest they look at who actually did the surgery. Must have used her as a guinea pig.

Ex SL Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:23 PM

Sri Lankan doctors are very arrogant. They don't have communication skills. They think they are next to God. We don't see such arrogance in the western world. In the western world doctors are like patients' servants. Make SL doctors to train in communication skills and have a communication examination for their increments.

Shanker Nadarajah Thursday, 08 October 2020 09:24 AM

Well said

Anony Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:28 PM

These doctors should be penalized

Ivan Kulasekera Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:42 PM

Suspended the tax payer funded doctor without pay until the investigation is concluded. And the health ministry should duly compensate the family and pay any bills that this baby will incur to fix this by means of plastic surgery.

Slammy Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:55 PM

Am a father of three and felt really sorry for the newborn and the parents. Sue the doctor and the hospital. Don't let the doctor to practice again.

SL Citizen Wednesday, 07 October 2020 02:57 PM

A similar incident happened to me at Nawaloka Hospital That was due to the negligence of reputed doctors

Nayani Wednesday, 07 October 2020 03:34 PM

Sadly like everything else, we don't have adequate laws where people can sue hospitals

Ishi Wednesday, 07 October 2020 03:43 PM

Please reveal doctors' names so no mother would ever see these doctors for their deliveries. Doctors responsible need to be sued and licenses revoked for this grave mistake!

E Fernando Saturday, 10 October 2020 04:38 PM

Absolutely. The doctor's name should be revealed so that other patients can have a choice. Especially since the original doctors name is given. Avoiding arrogant doctor like this is the only recourse patients have as hospitals never take action

Naveen Madhawa Thursday, 08 October 2020 06:47 AM

This can happen in any surgery by any trained personnel. There are adverse effects in a c section and this one of them. Only one side of the story is reported and it shows how biased it is. No point in commenting to this article. They will publish a new article saying sorry to relevant parties.

Tom jones Thursday, 08 October 2020 01:36 PM

Pregnant ladies should organisedemonstrAtion opposite this private hospital and demand this hospital be closed. Ceasarian operation quick fix should be banned

marci peyres Thursday, 08 October 2020 08:50 PM

Sue this doc. and the hospital. Mr. President it is time you discipline arrogant SriLankan doctors as well. How could they do this to a baby just born? Plain cruelty. Punish them.

para Wednesday, 14 October 2020 06:21 PM

The poor baby will have a scar throughout her life What a pity to a beautiful girl. The doctor who performed the C section , will have a treuma through out his/der life May GOD bless them both. thamby

Peri Wednesday, 14 October 2020 11:09 PM

This will be investigated by other doctors, and of course they will say it was not the Doctor's fault. Doctors are the only profession where they will kill you and then charge money for it.

Sunil Thursday, 15 October 2020 01:32 AM

Can they do plastic surgery later to remove the scar

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Doctors blame newborn for gash on her face

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