Given my recent experience and the fact that I had a follow-up appointment with my obs today, this hit pretty close to home when I saw it on the news tonight.

I thank god I still have my life, I cannot imagine what this family has gone through.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/01/2585902.htm


"Family gets apology after childbirth death

Posted 8 hours 2 minutes ago
Updated 7 hours 6 minutes ago
Grace Murray, whose mother died after her birth at Nepean Hospital in western Sydney

The New South Wales Greater Western-Area Health Service has apologised to the family of a woman who died from blood loss after giving birth at Bathurst Base Hospital.

Twenty-nine-year-old Rebecca Murray had an emergency caesarean and gave birth to a baby girl at Bathurst Base Hospital in 2007.

She then died of a severe haemorrhage after being flown to Nepean Hospital in Penrith, in Sydney's west.

At the inquest into her death, lawyers for the Greater Western Area Health Service have, said it is deeply sorry for the tragedy and the events that led to it.

Outside the court, Rebecca Murray's husband Jim, says he would have liked to have heard an apology earlier.

"That could have come two years ago," he said.

"They say they're fixing things in the hospital, that's all I can hope for. Maybe the changes that have happened since Rebecca's death will save a life, and maybe that person can just give a little thank you to her."

In opening statements to the inquest, the Counsel assisting said that it was a tragedy Rebecca Murray had died of a well-known condition, that could generally be resolved through treatment."

As someone who works in the area of medical negligence law, I know how rare it is to actually get an apology - but unfortunately that will not bring back this family's wife/mother/daughter. Even after all the years in my job it never ceases to amaze me the terrible and preventable things that continue to happen to patients.

Monica - I read your story and am so so sorry you had such an awful experience and that this story has hit you hard. I hope you have received and/or do get the answers you deserve.

Its terrible that its so hard to say the words "sorry". The poor family. Like the husband said they should have said it 2 years ago.

Its scary to think that i had Mak in 2007 at Nepean Hopspital.

It is very upsetting that these things still happen. I remember reading about this story and finding it quite horrifying.

Monica, good luck with your obs appointment today. I hope you get lots of straight answers and the compassion you deserve.

How awful, it does make you wonder how many cases could have had better outcomes, particularly in the case of death. My sister is the secretariat for the mortality board at her hospital. She is pretty traumatised from it half the time, but I am glad they have a board that discuss the cases and potentially learn from them.

Best of luck with your appt today Monica.

That is so tough.

Monica, we are just all so grateful that you had a different result. Best of luck today with your Obs, keep fighting until you get the answer that you deserve.

Thanks guys.
I had my obs appointment yesterday.
After an internal examination it was determined that they did leave a little bit of cervical tissue but given I am not a great candidate for another surgery, I have decided to leave it be and put up with a pap smear every couple of years. I couldn't put my husband through another operation and we have a daughter to look after for the rest of our lives.

The obs did finally admit that I was let go far too long in 'pre-labour'. Given he really wasn't involved in my care though until the operation, it doesn't hold much weight.

I am finalising my complaint paperwork so we'll see what happens after that

Monica I hope you don't mind me asking, but what does it mean if you have cervical tissue remaining? Is it that it all needs to be completely removed?

I've been following your story, I was left so devastated after readign your birth story, I forwarded it to my friend who is a nurse and her comment was 'sounds like they let her go too long', I hope you get the answers and anything else you need from them to help you heal.

Yeah, there is still a tiny bit of my cervix there, enough so that I need paps as cervical cancer is still a risk. The obs said they left some behind as the operation was pretty messy and they didn't want to go fiddling around for what wasn't really a priority to get out. It doesn't matter if it remains, that is my call to make and I have deicded to leave it there. Going under the knife again terrifies me.

My Mum wrote a letter to Gillian Skinner (opposition Health Minitster) and she received an email back today asking if we would like our story raised in parliment and with the relevant media agencies. I have agreed to this. I think it needs to be highlighted so that procedures and practices can be reviewed

Monica that is a great development, you will have to keep us posted with relevant parliamentary notes etc etc so we can let people know as well. You should contact local media sources if it is being picked up like that, maybe they will pick it up too.

Monica I think it's wonderful that you are speaking up about this. What happened to you is very sad and distressing - how amazing if you are able to use your experiences positively and make a difference for other women in the future.

Will you get any other official word from the hospital, or just from what the obs has said?

I doubt it liz.
The NUM sat in a de-briefing session and did not say one word when it became apparent that HER staff had failed me (not the obs or surgical team, they saved my life).

TBPH, if she had apologised then and there, I wouldn't have taken it any further. I wanted her to acknowlegde what happened to me and if she couldn't apologise for her staff or on behalf of the hospital, she could have at least just said she was sorry for my loss. SO MAD

I think it's great that you're speaking out about this, Monica. There's too little support in terms of after-care for new mums (eg kicking us out of hospital) as well as asking us to labour at home till we're at certain dilation. All part of cost-cutting I suppose.

I too just read your story and was horrified by how long they let you go. I'm glad you and bub are okay, though it sounds very frightening.

Nothing like on the scale of what happened to you or the Bathurst woman, but I lost 1.8L last time so I'm a bit nervous about this time myself!