Another maternal death rocks GPHC

Nov 17, 2010 News

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– Mother of five succumbs after delivering healthy girl

By Latoya Giles

Yet another maternal death has rocked the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and this time the victim is a mother of five.
Dead is Miriam Bristol, 38, of 47 Miles Mabura, Upper Demerara River, who died at around 22:30 hrs on Monday, after delivering a healthy baby girl.
Yesterday the woman’s reputed husband Glen Williams was pondering who will help him look after his motherless children.
Williams told this publication that his wife was initially admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex last week Tuesday. He said that Bristol was getting “mild labour” pains. On Friday, last, the woman was transferred to the GPHC, after doctors told her that they were getting a low heartbeat for the baby.
“They (the doctors) told her that they will have to transfer her because the baby getting a low heartbeat,” Williams said.
The man said his wife was ambulant when she left the Linden Hospital. Williams further told this publication that his wife started getting intense labour pains on Monday.
He related that doctors told Bristol that she needed to wait since she was ready to deliver. Williams said he last spoke to his wife sometime around 22:00hrs on Monday and she was complaining about the fact none of the nurses weren’t paying any attention to her.
“She was crying and saying nobody ain’t looking at her….so I told her I will come early in the morning…I ain’t know she woulda dead,” cried Williams.
Hospital sources yesterday said that the woman died sometime around 22:30 hrs on Monday.
Relatives yesterday expressed the opinion that doctors should have conducted a caesarian section, since Bristol was in labour for such a lengthy period.
“They should have done a C-Section since she was transferred to GPHC, last week,” one relative said.
Meanwhile the hospital in a press statement yesterday said that they were grappling with the recent incidences of maternal deaths, in which the hospital is being blamed for the death.
The GPHC further stated that “the medical staff battle tirelessly to preserve the lives of the mothers and their newborn, and in some cases the deaths are unfortunately and unavoidable and in some instances, complications develop wherein, there is nothing the best physician or state of the art facility can do to reverse the situation.”
The release stated that Bristol had had a previous caesarian section, and it was a case which posed an increase risk of bleeding.
Furthermore the hospital is contending that the baby had a “fast heart beat” contrary to what the husband said. Also the baby’s position posed a risk.
Upon Bristol’s arrival at the GPHC, she was assessed and it was found the baby’s heart rate had returned to normalcy, the release stated.
She was subsequently admitted to the Pre-natal Ward where constant monitoring was done.
Bristol, according to the release, showed no signs of pain or discomfort so there was no need for immediate surgical intervention.
An ultrasound was subsequently ordered to determine whether or not a normal delivery would have had to be performed, as against a Caesarian Section (CS) (due to the position of the baby), however due to the pace of the delivery, the ultrasound was not able to be done.
The release indicated that around 21:05 hrs, on Monday, last, Bristol started complaining of pains and she was bleeding profusely.
It was noted that she was in active labour at the time, but the bleeding continued and it was considered to be “out of the ordinary”.
At this time, the release said that Bristol was being prepared for the operating theatre, for a caesarian section to be done.
However, labour was very hasty and she delivered in the labour room, but the bleeding continued and further complications developed. The placenta was removed, but the bleeding still persisted.
The most senior staff was summoned and the patient
was transported to the theatre, but her gasping commenced before she could arrive at the theatre, the release stated. Resuscitation measures were performed for close to half of an hour, but to no avail.
According to the release, the medical, nursing and other staff worked feverishly in an attempt to save Bristol’s life but she succumbed.
“Management is saddened by another death; however, it assures all that every effort is being employed by all relevant staff to save the lives of the nation’s most precious resource. Moreover, the medical and nursing staff wish to thank all who understand that the preservation of life is paramount in the medical profession and to all the staff of GPHC. As is the norm with all maternal deaths, management has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of this patient.”
Only last month, a nurse who was attached to the hospital, Charlene Amsterdam, died there two days after a caesarian section was performed.
No negligence has since being cited in the case of Amsterdam’s death, this was according to Director of Medical Services, of the Georgetown Hospital Dr. Madan Rambarran.

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