Sungai Petani Hospital Refutes Woman's Allegation

SUNGAI PETANI, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Sungai Petani Hospital (HSP) Sunday denied claims by a woman that its staff were negligent and caused her embarrassment when handling her delivery of a dead foetus.
HSP Director Dr Haris Fadzillah Che Hashim said in a statement that treatment given to Zaini Zainol, 33, by the hospital's nurses, medical officers, obstetrician and gynecologist was according to the correct procedure and guidelines.
Zaini, of Kampung Padang Lengkuas, Baling, alleged that she was told to give birth to the foetus in an open ward and that the medical officers and nurses were negligent in removing the placenta, causing her to undergo the same process twice in two days.
Dr Haris Fadzillah said Zaini was admitted to HSP's gynaecology ward last Monday to have her foetus removed after medical officers and experts found on the same day that the foetus had died.
He said that normally, the removal of foetuses less than 28 weeks old was handled at the gynaecology ward while the labour room handled births of babies of 28 weeks old and above.
"Medicines were given and examinations were conducted on Zaini every four hours. An examination at 2.40 pm on Tuesday revealed that it was not time for her to give birth.
"However, at 4 pm on the same day, she showed signs of delivery. The nurses and medical officers had handled the delivery process in the ward," he said.
Dr Haris Fadzillah also said that Zaini had to undergo the process of removing the placenta twice because an ultrasound examination done after the first procedure showed that the placenta was still in the womb.
The placenta had to be removed to avoid complications later, he said.
Meanwhile, Kedah Acting Menteri Besar Datuk Mahdzir Khalid expressed shock and sadness over the claim and hoped that something would be done to restore the hospital's image.