KOTA KINABALU: Sabah health authorities are investigating claims by a man over negligence by the Tawau Hospital.
The man had alleged on social media that his wife, who gave birth through caesarean section (C-section) last Dec 31 at the hospital, suffered pain in her abdomen after her stitches had opened up as a result of alleged negligence by the medical staff.
State health director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said the repair and surgery to re-attach the stitches on the woman’s womb had been successful, adding the patient was in stable condition.
He said the woman was also under close observation by the medical team at the intensive care unit (ICU).
"A team has been formed to investigate the issue," he said in a statement shared on Facebook on Wednesday (Jan 17).
"Efforts were also made to contact the complainant to explain the matter.
"The Sabah Health Department takes all complaints seriously and will conduct detailed and transparent probes to improve our services," he added.
Dr Asits said that based on patient records at the Tawau Hospital in east coast Sabah, the 34-year-old woman who was 31 weeks pregnant with her twin babies had checked into the hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department after showing symptoms of going into labour at 7pm on Dec 31.
After being examined by health workers, he said, the patient was recommended to undergo an emergency C-section operation, considering she was going into premature labour as well as the risk of placenta previa or low implantation of the placenta.
He said the patient subsequently agreed and gave written consent for the emergency surgery after listening to the explanation of its risks and complications.
The surgery was a success, and she, as well as her twins, were warded for further observation, he noted, adding the patient was discharged from the maternity ward three days after the operation on Jan 2 in stable condition.
"However, the patient returned to the Tawau Hospital’s emergency and trauma department on Jan 6 after suffering a fever that lasted two days and abdominal pain," Dr Asits said.
After being examined and treated by the obstetrics and gynaecology specialist and surgeons, he said, the patient was advised to undergo a procedure called "exploratory relaparotomy" to ascertain the cause of the pain.
"The patient and her husband then consented to the surgery after explaining its risks and complications.
"The operation was successfully undertaken the same day," he said.
Dr Asits explained that the specialist team found out that when the surgery was carried out, there was an infection in the womb that caused the stitches to come off and also caused an infection in the abdomen cavity.
