On November 19, 2024, a heartbreaking incident caught the attention of netizens as a 26-year-old mother of two tragically passed away after giving birth to a baby weighing 3 pounds. The question of whether the hospital should bear responsibility for the incident has sparked discussions online.
According to a report by the “Jiangnan City News” on November 18, Mr. Yang’s wife from Kaifeng, Henan Province, was seven months pregnant and experienced symptoms of bleeding and frequent uterine contractions. On November 13, she decided to have a cesarean section. Shockingly, during the suturing surgery, it was discovered that there was a blood clot in her blood vessels, leading to a sudden heart stoppage. Despite 4 hours of rescue efforts, she unfortunately passed away, leaving behind a premature baby weighing over 3 pounds. The family was devastated, especially their 2-year-old daughter who lost her mother.
Mr. Yang expressed, “This is a child she fought desperately to leave behind, and I do not want to give up…”
Following the incident, many netizens expressed outrage, claiming it was a medical accident. They questioned how a routine cesarean section could result in such a tragedy and raised concerns about the hospital’s responsibility, as well as the professionalism and emergency response capabilities of the medical staff.
Some netizens found it unbelievable that such a tragedy could occur in the 21st century. They questioned where the hospital’s management loopholes and the doctors’ professional ethics had gone. They hoped that relevant authorities would thoroughly investigate the matter and provide justice for the family.
“Why, with such advanced medical technology, do tragedies like this still occur?” questioned a user named “That Cow.”
“Can a 26-year-old person have blood clots? This is just an excuse for the hospital to evade responsibility,” commented another user, “Dawn Wind and Remaining Moon 5Z7U0.”
In this situation, should the hospital bear legal responsibility?
According to an article by legal professional “Study of Law with Wood,” if the hospital is found to be at fault during the treatment process, such as failing to promptly detect and address the blood clot in the blood vessels or inappropriate surgical procedures leading to the patient’s death, the hospital may be liable for corresponding legal responsibilities.
The article cited the Civil Code: “If a patient suffers harm during medical activities due to the fault of a medical institution and its medical staff, the medical institution shall bear compensation liability.”
“Therefore, if it is determined through an investigation that the hospital was indeed at fault, the hospital should be held accountable for the patient’s death, including medical expenses, loss of income, funeral costs, death compensation, etc.”