Urinary bladder “cut” in delivery: Woman claims doc ‘negligent’

CEBU, Philippines - A 23-year-old woman who recently gave birth accused a government hospital of negligence after her urinary bladder was accidentally cut during a cesarean delivery.

Jermelyn Bactismo, a native of Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando, Cebu, gave birth to a baby boy on November 7, a day after she was admitted to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

For Bactismo, it was pure bliss seeing her first child, but it was also a sad day after hearing from her doctor that her bladder had been inadvertently cut during the delivery.

“Pagkagawas sa bata gipahibalo ko sa doctor nga naigo ug nahiwa ang akong pantog kay sikit ra daw kaayo sa matris,” she said in a phone interview yesterday.

She added that she was informed to wait for a surgeon to suture the injured bladder.

Bactismo said she was only able to reply “okay” while teary-eyed and afraid.

A medical study revealed that injury to the bladder occurs in about 0.3 percent of cesarean deliveries and about one percent of gynecologic surgical procedures. Early recognition of the injury is essential to successful repair, but delayed recognition of the injury can also lead to serious complications.

After the operation, she said a urinary catheter was inserted into her bladder. However, she said every time she urinates the fluid does not come out through the catheter but directly through her vagina, which according to her is very painful.

“Sakit kaayo. Magngutngot sa kasakit. Maglisod gani ko og lihok,” she said.

Bactismo said they tried to ask help from her doctor, who allegedly refused to give assistance and said “ngano naa pa man mo nga checked-out naman mo?”

She was discharged from the hospital on November 12.

She said they consulted the hospital’s Urology Department and also failed to get help.

“Wala lagi ko giatiman. Gikasab-an pa gani mi sa nurse ngano daw nidretso mi sa Urology center kay sila ra daw mo-contact. Human giingnan mi buot-buot,” she said.

She added that her doctor did not prescribe her any medicine, but she was advised instead to drink lots of water.

Due to incessant pain they went back to the hospital for consultation on November 18. She said the doctor told them to have an advance test at a private hospital in Cebu to check if her bladder is leaking.

“Problema kaayo mi kay wala man mi kuwarta igo ra man gani pamlete,” she said.

The alleged negligence was divulged over social media on November 18 after Bactismo’s cousin Marivic Tamura posted a video on her Facebook account (Red Tamura) captioned with “Panawagan: Sotto Hospital Cebu!!! Ayaw ninyu Practisi Ang Pas-yente!!!”

“Nag-suffer ang among ig-agaw tungod sa inyong kadanghag. Kinabuhi na inyong gi-utang busa ayaw practisi ug duwai,” Tamura said while appealing to the netizens to help them seek justice.

At 7 p.m. last night, the video drew 44,929 Facebook users and 1,994 of them shared it. One user said the incident is inexcusable and injustice. Another user said the licenses of the doctors involved must be revoked and they must pay for damages.

The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the parties involved in the incident pending their comments.

VSMMC spokesperson Eleodoro Mongaya Jr. said they are still trying to determine the veracity of the report.

“Initial investigation with regards to media report now being conducted,” he said.

He also advised Bactismo to visit the hospital and file a complaint or course the complaint through the Department of Health, which has the administrative and technical supervision over the hospital.

DOH-7 Public Information Officer Bernadine Hayag said they have not yet received any complaint regarding the incident.

When The FREEMAN visited her in her house yesterday Jermelyn Bactismo had difficulty moving about because of the catheter.

“Maayo unta maabagan lang mi sa galastohon, kay naputos nami sa utang gumikan sa daghan galastohon ilabi na sa akong pagpanganak ug ako amahan nga paralisado maoy nag-atiman nako kay nagtrabaho man ako bana alang sa among inadlaw nga kunsomo,” she said.

If the doctor and the hospital will not help her, Bactismo said she will go to the appropriate agency who can help her. — /BRP (Kristine B. Quintas, Staff Member))Rowena D. Capistrano Banat News Correspondent)