Woman left puzzled after losing newborn at St. Ann's Bay Hospital

By Tanzara Jackson    

 

A mother is questioning the series of events that led to her delivering a stillborn and the subsequent removal of her womb at the St. Ann's Bay Hospital in June.

 

The 31-year-old woman, Shante Somers, was admitted to the facility on June 20 due to complications with her pregnancy. She says two days later the induction process was initiated.

 

Ms. Somers claims procedures that should have been followed, including timely medical assessment and intervention, were overlooked. 

 

"So while I was there, one of them, she put on her gloves and then she came around. Then when she checked to see what was going on, they were telling me to push. How can you tell someone to push at six centimetres dilated when it should be 10? I noticed that she left, go around behind the screen to the other nurse. They were there talking to each other, one was on their phone, and all I was calling for them to pay attention to me, no one wouldn't show," she claimed.    

 

Medical records seen by our news center noted that at 4:15 p.m. on June 24, the day the lifeless neonate was delivered, a drug, cytotec, was administered three times and approximately three hours later, it was recorded that Ms. Somers was fully dilated with weak contractions. The report noted that an urgent cesarean section would have followed if the baby was not delivered in 40 minutes.

 

It was further noted that the child's head was stuck in the birth canal and maneuvers to get the baby back into the abdomen, coupled with the distress endured, contributed to the unfortunate outcome.

 

Ms. Somers said she is not sure what happened between incision and delivery that necessitated an emergency hysterectomy, but she believes the prolonged delays resulted in her baby being born with no cardiac activity. 

 

"...During the operation to remove the baby, they accidentally hit a artery in my uterus, where I was bleeding out on the table. So when I started to get out control, the doctor sent for another doctor where she has to come and remove the uterus to save my life," she recounted.   

 

Radio Jamaica News obtained a copy of an email that was reportedly sent to the Regional Technical Director for NEHRA Dr. Patrick Wheatle on July 15.

 

Senior Medical Officer for St. Ann's Bay Hospital, Dr. Tanya Hamilton Johnson told our news centre that a formal complaint was received at the facility and is being processed. 

 

"Having a baby and losing a baby is always considered a very sad occasion, and we are quite aware of this. And we must offer our condolences to the patient who would have suffered loss here, mentally as well," she said. 

 

According to Ms. Somers, she has not received the pathology report in relation to her case, but has since requested a medical report on her last admission.