Woman carrying dead foetus sent home twice
December 14, 2007 06:04pm
Article from: AAP
A PREGNANT woman suffering bleeding was twice told by a doctor in a Sydney hospital her baby was healthy when in fact the foetus had been dead for a month.
It is the second botched handling of a miscarriage to rock the New South Wales public hospital system after the scandal of a woman miscarrying in a toilet at Royal North Shore Hospital prompted a parliamentary inquiry.
Amy Bennett was rushed to Campbelltown Hospital in Sydney's southwest on Sunday after she started bleeding.
Ms Bennett told Network Ten a doctor at the hospital had told her in heavily accented English that the bleeding was normal before sending her home.
She said she returned the next day when the bleeding worsened, but the same doctor diagnosed dehydration and sent her home again.
"I woke up the next morning, there was blood everywhere," a distraught Ms Bennett told the network.
"I didn't want to go back to Campbelltown Hospital and have them tell me nothing was wrong when I knew something was wrong.
"I've never miscarried before, how was I meant to know?"
Ms Bennett instead went to her GP, who immediately diagnosed a miscarriage.
Scans later revealed the baby had been dead for a month, the report said.
"There was no heartbeat, the baby was..." Ms Bennett said, unable to continue.
Sydney South West Area Health Service said it had reviewed records of Ms Bennett's visits to Campbelltown Hospital and found no evidence of inappropriate treatment.
"Ms (Bennett) was treated appropriately for the symptoms with which she presented and as given to the clinical staff on 9 December," the statement said.
"(She) was not seeking treatment on 10 December, rather she returned to the hospital seeking her results from the day before.
"The results which confirmed Ms (Bennett) was pregnant were discussed with the patient by the medical officer."
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