THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has launched an investigation after a woman- Olive Correia Jacobs complained that the institution’s negligence resulted in the death of her unborn child.

The woman lost her child on July 6. Jacobs spoke with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday just as she was leaving a private hospital, having gone there to deal with issues stemming from stitches which went loose since leaving the GPHC. The 35-year-old woman has detailed her story in a four-page document to the press, citing several instances of alleged negligence on the part of the doctors and their lack of consideration and empathy during the entire ordeal.

Approximately 19 days later today, Jacobs said no one from the hospital has contacted her and that whatever she and her family know is as a result of media reports. An investigation into the incident has reportedly been launched.

The woman said if there is one positive she is hoping to come out of her story; it would be for doctors at the GPHC to be more careful and interested in their patients. She is convinced had she been shown such care and interest; she would still be in possession of her beautiful baby girl, whom she had to bury.

Guyana Chronicle attempted to contact the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer George Lewis on Tuesday but was told by his secretary that he was unavailable.
This publication was then referred to Public Relations Officer Mitzy Campbell who would only say that the investigation is still ongoing.

Time to deliver
Jacobs was healthy throughout her pregnancy, and dealt only with normal pregnancy symptoms. On July 5, she was transferred to the GPHC from the Bartica Hospital via speedboat ride. At this point, she was over 39 weeks pregnant.
Jacobs made sure to clarify whether or not she would be able to deliver her baby in Bartica and was given all assurances that she would be able to do so.
Two weeks later, however, she was told that she would not be able to give birth in Bartica. And this was when the transfer was made.

“I was examined and was told I’m two to three cm. Then they made a phone call. After that, they decided to clip my water bag and then check for my baby’s heartbeat. There was no sound, not a beat, nothing. The medical personnel said maybe the machine is not working,” Jacobs recounts.

“I was told to shower, even in my agonising pain and a high temperature. I told them I had a shower before but they said I had to anyways. I dragged myself and washed myself off; I wanted to collapse. I was told I’m being transferred to the section before the delivery room. It was my luggage that was put into a wheelchair and I was the one to walk. I told the girl, ‘Please, I can’t; I need a chair.’ She said I had to walk, and I needed to hurry. I really struggled, but made it anyway. What choice did I have?”

Jacobs recalled that when she arrived at the section, there was a number of medical personnel at her bed, after having left her unattended for the entire day. “They checked for baby’s heartbeat on about three different machines. Now, they decided to check on me and then inform me that my baby was dead.”

No sympathy was offered or any further care given. “They just left me without anyone to assist me. My husband tried to get their attention for assistance but without any success for a while. All this time, I was in a soaked bed; my nightwear was soaked. I was in a big mess and in extreme pain. I asked for a change of bed. Instead, the sheet was changed and I thankfully accepted what I got.”

All of this was happening with the fetus still inside of her. “We begged them to cut me and take the baby out but were told I have to push my dead baby out. Even with everything that was going on, they did not allow my husband to stay with me. I was left there with my dead baby inside of me, all alone.”

Even as Jacobs expressed that she could not walk to the delivery room, she was made to walk. “I went into that delivery room at 9:50 pm. I came out after 1:00 am. I pushed and pushed. Then, a female and a male doctor put a lot of pressure on my tummy but baby would not come. So they give me a third degree cut. Baby’s head was out finally. They made the baby’s shoulders get stuck [so it was] a next hard pushing. Baby was finally out…beautiful, fresh, healthy baby girl, dead, dead, dead. No life, no sound, no blink, no nothing, just plain dead, beautiful child.”

Jacobs was left in her messy state until after another baby was delivered. “Then they came and cleaned me up. I asked for a chair to go at my bed but the nurse said it’s not far; you have to walk. So I started walking slowly because of the severe pain I was in.”
Upon inquiring of the baby’s cause of death, the doctors told Jacobs that they did not know. “On the still birth certificate, the medical officer that certified the death wrote that she died because of Cardiovascular arrest. On the day of the autopsy we were told they are not going to cut the baby; that the baby died because of Sudden Death Syndrome. How did they know that without cutting her?”

Jacobs said she is looking to her God to bring her true justice. “We are confident that our God sees and knows all of you who neglected me and caused the death of my beautiful baby girl. Life is precious to Him and very soon, He will render judgement. So we will wait for that time to come.”