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Teen dies after botched abortion at private clinic
An 18-year-old girl is dead after being subjected to what appears to be a botched abortion conducted at a doctor’s
Karen Devi Bahdal
private clinic on the East Coast of Demerara.
Karen Devi Bahdal, a mother of two, and of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, died in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit yesterday, despite undergoing surgery there to repair a perforated uterus and damaged bowels. The injuries were reportedly sustained during the abortion.
Sources have confirmed that the physician who performed the abortion on Bahdal holds a prominent post at a private hospital, besides running his East Coast clinic.
According to the teen’s husband, Vishal Surujpaul, Bahdal was four months pregnant and she was continuously asking to have an abortion, since she already had two children; a two-year-old and a four-month-old.
According to him, his reputed wife was also trying to hide her pregnancy from her immediate relatives.
Surujpaul said he tried to persuade his reputed wife to use the money to buy clothes for the baby, rather than have the abortion.
“I didn’t want to give her money, but I eventually did and left for work, when I come home in the afternoon (on December 23) I see she vomiting and she told me that she went and did the abortion, so I ask her why she did it when I tell her not to.”
He said that after the termination, Bhadal began vomiting continuously while complaining of abdominal pains. He then took her to the GPHC on December 24, where she was immediately admitted.
On Boxing Day, relatives received a call from a doctor from the GPHC, who requested that Bhadal’s husband and one of her relatives meet with him at the hospital.
Hardai Ramroop, an aunt of the teen, said the doctor told them that Bhadal had to undergo emergency surgery to remove her womb.
“She went on the surgery on Monday (December 26) and the doctor told us that her intestine was bore and her womb was also bore so they mend it.”
This publication understands that since the teen came out of the theatre on Monday last, she never regained consciousness and died yesterday at 8:00am.
Yesterday, Kaieteur News managed to contact the doctor who performed the abortion. However, the physician nervously denied performing the termination, and denied having a clinic in the east Coast Demerara village where the procedure was done.
According to other sources, following the abortion, Karen Bhadal was admitted to the GPHC after complaining of abdominal pains. She was given an ultrasound. After this, doctors at the hospital observed that the patient’s abdomen was still swollen. She also had a fever and was vomiting.
She underwent a second ultrasound and this time it was observed that there was fluid in her stomach. Bhadal was then taken to the hospital’s operating theatre. Medical staff then observed that both the teen’s uterus and bowel were perforated, and had her undergo surgery to repair the damage. But according to sources, by then, ‘stuff’ from her bowels had already leaked into her stomach, and peritonitis (the presence of bacteria in the stomach) had developed.
The teen’s condition worsened and she was taken to the Intensive Care Unit and placed on a ventilator. According to sources, everything was done to save Bhadal’s life, but to no avail.
“They washed out her belly and put her on antibiotics, but once the problem started it is difficult to reverse.”
Bhadal never regained consciousness and eventually succumbed at around 08:00 hrs yesterday.
An autopsy is likely to be performed on Wednesday.
Kaieteur News understands that the physician who performed the abortion had once worked at the GPHC in the gynecology department, but is not a specialist in the field.
A source said that the Ministry of health has a list of physicians who are approved to terminate pregnancies.
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Such a sad story, look how she gone and die and leave those two little children to grow up without a mother………children are a blessing and not a curse so why not bring them forth.
Peritonitis is not bacteria in the stomach it is inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs. Do not mislead the Public
ok,doc
So sad , a young life snuffed out and two little ones left without a mother. I hope this is an eye opener for the Ministry of Health to put systems in place to stop these quack doctors from performing these illegal operations on persons.
So sad, my condolence goes out to her family.
I have nothing but sympathy for the deceased and her family and immediate relatives..
I have also, an immediate desire for an investigation of this matter and it’s published results and consequent actions and recommendations.
People do things that they should not do for money, even though there is great risk of hurting others. This matter should be thoroughly investigated and justice done. Another vibrant life lost because slack medical practice. My condolences to the family.
This is a very sad situation. Regulations and standards for private clinics must be enforced and those who operate “bottom house” clinics must be dealt with by the law. I call on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Services to investigate this matter. This should not have happened.
My condolences to the bereaved family.
This is such a good example of: “eye for an eye”! Kill, and be killed. Avoid getting pregnant, not terminate the pregnancy when it is already there. This is MURDER! That cwack of a doctor must be removed from society. Absolutely controversial inexperienced job performance. This can be considered a double murder. Will the authorities sweep this under the carpet? Remember, bread crumbs are also part of the bread, how sad. God is the only one who continue to invest in life, and he sees how we as human treat the gift granted to us
This procedure needs to be properly monitored. Government needs to intervene and ensure all abortion clinics meet certain standards.
There was one doctor who was famous for this.He was called the butcher because of what he do and how he did it. I understand he used to go about it in a reckless manner.
Some of the doctors are only after money. They treat these women worse than animals.
My advice to anyone who has this in mind to first listen to God’s words ” Kill not your children for want as I provide for you and I will provide for them”.
My deepest sympathy to this family.
The Doctor people called a “Butcher” saved many a pregnancy and many a life. I, and my three children are testimony to that.
they want someone jail they behind for all them wrong work they does do.
My deepest sympathy to her family.In a country where healthcare is so poor there is no such thing as a routine medical procedure.So abortions should be avoided at all cost.So very sad.
Shame! Shame! and more shame! I do hope that the powers that be pursue the perpetrator of the botched abortion. Dead men tell no tales. But why in the hell would she incriminate him, moreover that he has a background in gynecology and obstetrics, irregardless of how competent he may be.
Pursue him in like manner like Michael Jackson’s physician. Strip him of his licence.
Is he that moronic that he think that she could do that herself?
I can understand this young mother not wanting to have another child when she already had two very young ones to care for but at the same time I mourn for the unborn child who was never given a chance to experience what it means to be alive, for the two who must now live not knowing a mother’s love, and for the mother who must have died wondering what is to become of those that she was leaving behind.
My condolences to Karen’s husband, children, parents and relatives but I damn the physician who was responsible for the botched procedure. He should be made to pay both financially and with the loss of his license to practice medicine in Guyana, and this does not rule out some prison time.
sorry for your lost.
Some women cannot use oral contraceptives for medical reasons. This leaves the condom and abstinence as the primary means of contraception.
Isn’t it strange that the very society that is quick to say bring forth the child would have been the same society to ask if “they don’t sleep?” The young lady in question obviously felt that she could not cope with another pregnancy and maybe another child.
Religious beliefs apart, no woman should have to be in Bhadal’s position and have to hide and seek backyard abortion services.
The Ducktor in question should be jailed and his licence revoked. He should serve as an example to other Quacks.
the family should seek a good lawyer and get this “doctor” to pay into an escrow account a substantial fixed amount of cash every month for both the young children until they are eighteen years old. he should also be sent to jail for medical malpractice – resulting in the death of a patient. round off his sentenceing with an addition of 5 years just for denying that he performed this botched operation….
RIP young lady and i feel for you when i think of your circumstances which contributed to your sad and untimely passing. you were failed equally by those closest to you and those around you…..
How sad, a botched abortion. Who will be responsible for this teen’s death? There must be actions taken againt the doctor. But, when this teen was admitted to the GPHC on (December 23, 2011), the doctors should have immediately requested a CT Scan and put her an antibiotics IV. Poor Heathcare also contributed to her death.
Don’t know what to say. So sad. R.I.P