Dubai: A woman was forced to deliver her premature baby in the back seat of a car after a private hospital in Dubai rejected admitting her as it did not have the facilities, according to her husband.
The 25-year-old Filipina delivered her baby in front of the NMC Specialty Hospital at 1 am on Sunday, her husband, Essam, said.
"My wife went to NMC Hospital as it was following up on her pregnancy," he said. "At around 11.30 pm she was admitted to the emergency section due to severe pain."
Essam alleges his wife was asked to leave the Hospital immediately as she was in labour and the hospital was not equipped to deal with premature babies, born 35 weeks into pregnancy.
Hospital staff carried her on a stretcher to her friend's car and left her there. "I thought they [were] taking me to an ambulance and another hospital as I was in severe pain," she said.
Then the woman's water broke. "Within a few minutes I saw the baby crying on the back seat of the car," she said.
Her husband's friend had gone back into the hospital shouting for help when the woman's water broke. Seven doctors came running out of and one cut the umbilical cord. The woman was taken into the emergency ward as she was bleeding heavily.
She suffered three episodes of cardiorespiratory arrest. The baby also is suffering from breathing trouble.
The woman was taken to Dubai Hospital after the husband started going from hospital to hospital for an incubator for his baby.
"Thank God, I finally got help from Dubai Hospital who gave me a hand of help and saved my baby."
According to the hospital report the baby girl is in critical condition suffering from bleeding in the brain. The report notes the baby stopped breathing three times.
"We do not know what will happen in the future and it could affect her brain."
Dr Babita Shetty, a gynecologist at NMC, said according to Health Department rules, patients who are three terms, less than 35 weeks, are not allowed to be treated in the hospital.
"Such cases have to be taken to government hospitals ... which have a NICU [neonatal intensive care unit]."
Your comments
Hospitals are supposed to save lives, and not to be an instrument to lose one's life, in this case, two helpless individuals. Wake up NMC! Give us the reason to live! Shame.
Marc
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 19:32
How is this possible? Why didn't NMC offer any help in this situation? I'm shocked!
Vicky
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 19:13
Maybe the private hospitals have some limitations, but whatever it may be, in this situation what they have done is totally unacceptable and it's totally against humanity and can say against medical ethics. I pray to God to help this baby and the mother as well.
Antony Shiju
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:47
I still can't believe what I heard is true! I have worked in a hospital for four years. We can't call NMC a hospital if what we heard is true! If an appropriate action is not taken in this regard, this will repeated. By the way, my four-months pregnant sister has been consulting in NMC from the beginning. If in case of emergency, does she have to go to another government hospital? This is ridiculous.
M. Seddiqi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:32
This is so inhumane! Expectant mothers should be informed about this during the beginning of their pregnancy. All possible scenarios (of early labour) and their impacts and solutions should be discussed. The hospital should realise that they have played with not one but two lives. Can only pray that the baby and the mother both recover from this ordeal!
Michelle
Qusais,Dubai
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:21
It's about time some hospitals realised that patients are not just "parts" with insurance.
M. Bitar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:17
What they have done is a crime against humanity!
Jason
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:17
How can the hospital authorities leave the lady outside? If they didnt have the facility, they should have transferred her to another hospital in an ambulance.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:09
Horrifying! Doctors to whom we always respect, trust and have faith in can do such things.
Munira
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 18:04
It is sad, really sad to see that NMC sees its policy first and not humanity. I wonder what the reason could be for not providing any sort of medical facility when a patient is in severe pain and requires medical attention? NMC will have to tweak their rules and be humans first.
Shahin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:59
The couple are very much lucky, God bless their child.
Sudesh S. Mapari
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:58
The authorities should take strict action against such things and not allow them to play with our Life.
Muhammad Saad
Mohammad Saad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:51
They don?t have any respect for humanity at least they would have arranged an ambulance for her to transferring her to another hospital. This is a strange action from the staff of the hospital and strict action should be taken against the responsible staff not to repeat this again and if any life would have been spared, who would be responsible for this?
K. Abbas
Umm Al Quwain,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:42
NMC hospital should be responsible to transfer to another hospital if they know that they are not completely equipped by the way of using ambulance. It is a serious condition... Thankfully both the mother and baby are safe.. But we need to pray for the fastest recovery of the baby...
Noslede
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:29
How irresponsible can a hospital be? NMC should have called for an ambulance and sent them to a government hospital instead of throwing them out of the hospital at this last minute. The concerned authorities should take necessary steps and fine NMC for such irresponsible action. So no other private hospital does such actions in the future.
Deepak King
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:23
If I were the father I would have slapped these doctors several times because first of all they didn't help at all and secondly the stupidity is not to give even the ambulance, they are doctors and didnt even know how much time was left until the baby had to come out. I will never go to this hospital ever. My prayers for the baby.
Abid Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 17:14
You know what is most terrifying about this case? It's the complete lack of humanity of this hospital staff! And what kind of repulsive comment is that "such cases have to be taken to government hospitals"???!!! Do they really think she was in a condition to CHOOSE?! And if the patient is there, whichever case, isn't it their LEGAL duty to treat and care about them??! Not even an ambulance was granted to them?
2 lives have been severely damaged and all they can come up with is this?! This is absolutely HORRID.
My deepest regards to the husband, Mr. Essam.
Luisa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:59
Private hospitals need to have agreement with government hospitals and to be ready for this kind of situation. How unprofessional it is from NMC to send woman in labour away in her own car? Why do they have ambulance and how they can call them selves hospital? Authorities should take an action for this kind of behaviour!
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:56
This is very shocking to hear! How can the hospital just drop the lady in the car and leave her there? Aren't they supposed to help the patient to the government hospital? Also, they should have informed the husband beforehand so that he wouldn't have to roam from one hospital to another in search of an incubator! I also was a patient of NMC speciality, however i discontinued as in every visit, not much attention was ever paid to my health, all of it was dedicated to me purchasing a delivery package from the hospital! Very sad to hear this...
Fariha Akif
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:56
Hospitals who have done like this case should be questioned by the authorities as it is inhuman to leave a woman without providing her an ambulance. Let's say no facility for the baby as it's premature, at least they have to provide ambulance! Ridiculous kind of management.
Maya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:48
It would be interesting to note the reaction of the doctor if she was in the same situation as the mother. Wheeling the patient out into a car just enhances the professionalism of a hospital, which till now, was reputed for its medical proficiency. Well done.
Shiv
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:25
Unbelievable!! God bless them. Hope the baby gets well soon.
Sudhesh Nair
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 23, 2009, 16:06
