GPHC claims woman was informed of no baby 
GEORGETOWN Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has refuted claims by relatives of 18-year-old Althea Lewis, who was admitted to the Pre-Natal Ward on October 13, that she had received conflicting reports from nurses and doctors after giving birth.
Management of the institution, said, in a release, that the patient complained of “PV bleeding, lower abdominal pain, but no contractions. An ultrasound was ordered because the patient told the admitting nurse and doctor that none was previously done.”
The release said: “The appropriate treatment and care were administered to the patient continuously while she was on the ward and the last routine check showed that the patient was in increasingly intense pain, there was increased maternal bleeding and there was difficulty in being able to pick up a proper foetal heart rate.
The statement continued: “These were all indications of a potential life threatening situation to the mother and one which suggests that a baby is in distress. Coupled with these circumstances was the fact that the hospital staff had no other pertinent information about the patient’s history at their disposal.
“The situation, therefore, warranted immediate surgery in order to preserve the life of the patient. This was all explained to the patient who was lucid, fully conscious and oriented, as is the hospital’s protocol and she consented to having the surgery performed.
“The Laparotomy that was performed, however, revealed that there was no baby nor was the patient ever pregnant (her uterus was very small, inter alia, contrary to that of a woman who would have been then pregnant or who would have delivered). 
“Immediately after the surgery, the doctors spoke with Ms. Lewis and explained that there was no baby. They, subsequently, requested an audience with Ms. Lewis’ relatives to update them on the occurrence. The consultant and other medical staff met with Ms. Lewis’s father, explained what had occurred and offered to have an ultrasound done to prove what was stated. This offer was refused.
“It is noteworthy that this offer was made at another meeting with the patient’s relatives on Monday, 17 October, 2011, but it was, again, refused,” GPHC claimed.
GPHC said: “Subsequent investigations done revealed that Ms. Lewis had six (6) clinic visits at one health centre and, on her last clinic date, 31 August, 2011, there was no foetal heart heard. The patient was advised, on several occasions, that there was no pregnancy.
“An ultrasound was done on 17 May, 2011 and this, too, showed that there was no pregnancy. Further investigations revealed that a second ultrasound was done on 22 September, 2011, at a private institution and that, too, showed that there was no baby,” the statement said.
It concluded: “Management wishes to inform the general public that there is a genuine condition called Somatic or Pseudo Pregnancy wherein a woman is perceived to be pregnant, has the signs and symptoms of being pregnant, however she is not. Further, Ms. Lewis was not forthcoming and honest with the history she presented to the hospital, which always results in subsequent controversy and/confusion.
“Please also be advised that the hospital, as usual, has all the necessary documentation (facts) to substantiate its position,” the GPHC stated.