question

[ladyc]

Hi. Sorry this is in English. I can read Polish and speak pretty
well but writing takes me forever and I don't have time as I have a
2 year old and a new baby.

I gave birth 2 weeks ago and when I got to the hospital they told us
it was full and we had to go to another hospital. They said don't
worry you'll make it no problem. I disagreed as I already had the
need to push. Again they refused to take me. 'Full' means that there
were no beds for after the birth. Birthing rooms were available. I
demanded a statement in writing that they would not admit me and
transport by ambulance to another hospital immediately (morning rush
hour). The dr laughed at us. They hooked up the ktg to show me that
my baby is 'alive, you'll make it'. At that point I stopped
listening to them and I simply started to undress as the baby was on
the way. They decided to take me after all. Less than one hour later
my baby was born. We wouldn't have made it to another hospital.

My question is-Was it legal for the dr to just try to send me away?

Thanks and you can write in Polish.

[kaeira]

Pani Kasiu, jeśli nie zna pani angielskiego, chętnie przetłumaczę.

Ladyc, was this in Warsaw?
Other than the KTG, did they do any other examinations?

[katarzynaoles]

Dzięki za propozycję pomocy - jakoś mi umknęła wcześniej :)

[mysza_myszynska]

Absolutnie nie było to zgodne z prawem - poród jest traktowany jako 'przypadek
nagły' a w takich sytuacjach szpital MUSI przyjąć pacjenta. Obawiam się jednak,
że nie można będzie tu ich skarżyć, no bo w końcu jednak przyjęli. Oczywiście
sytuacja i podejście lekarzy było skandaliczne. Ze swojej strony gratuluję
odwagi i postawienia na swoim - tak trzymać! :) Pozdrawiam.

[ladyc]

Thanks for the replies. This was in Wrocław and I had a feeling that
it wasn't legal. Now I'm not sure if I should try to do anything
like make a formal complaint (if that would even change anything) so
maybe they will treat patients differently. The dr also checked my
dilation claiming it was 4 cm. Is is possible to have 4 cm and give
birth naturally less than an hour later at 10 cm?

[987ania]

I think that it wasn't legal. It was your second labour and you knew that the
baby is coming soon. And as you wrote you had 4cm and after hour 10, so it is
possible! I don't know if your complaint will be important for them or not. But
you should do it and ask them to inform you about the answer. Maybe your
complaint will help another mother.

[ladyc]

Thanks Ania. That's what I thought-to help another mother esp.
another mother who is giving birth for the first time. You know, if
it had been my first birth I probably would have got into my car and
started for another hospital...and I wouldn't have made it. We would
have had to call for an ambulance somewhere on the way ending up at
the same hospital anyway. Because it was my second birth I knew that
there was no time. I did have to sign a paper stating that I was
aware that there were not beds and that I would be without my baby
until a bed became available. They didn't offer that option until I
started to undress. Anyhow, once I got to birthing ward everything
was ok. Those drs and nurses don't really care if there are beds
after the birth. They had one goal-to help me (and my baby). And
they really did help me. It was a really nice experience thanks to
them. And I learned a new word-kucaj!

[katarzynaoles]

In my opinion it will be difficult to prove, that complaint is
legitimate. By law hospital is not obliged to admit patient if there
is no appropriate conditions to give needed health care, except when
it is an emergency. They made necessary examinations (KTG and
dilatation) – and on that base concluded that the birth was not so
advanced. In that case transfer to another hospital was possible and
justified – and they are able to prove it. It is no possibility to
impute anything till that very moment. But – on the other hand –
staff should be conscious, that the birth is in quick progress, and
the situation is changing. It is very difficult to prove, that it
was your decision to stay… And, anyway, hospital in case like this
should offer the ambulance for safe transfer. And, in some
hospitals, ER staff is helping to find the destination place. I
understand how you could feel. I am really sorry you had so
unpleasant experience during the birth. If you need to do
something – make the complaint., but for me is clear, that it will
be for your comfort only. Anyway – all the best :)

[ladyc]

Thanks. I figured that any complaint would be just for me and
probably not make a difference. Maybe I will feel better after
that :)
But regarding the transfer to another hospital-They told us to drive
to another hospital of course not giving us any info on what
hospital and checking if there were 'places'. I agreed to transfer
by ambulance only. Considering that there were only 15 minutes
between checking my dilation and crowning (the head showing) I
suspect the dr told us that the dilation was less than it really
was. Thank goodness everything turned out alright but if it hadn't
we do have witnesses to the conversation because I opened the door
to the waiting room so the other patients could hear as well.

In my opinion there were appropriate conditions to give needed
health care as all the birthing rooms and birthing staff were
available. I simply stayed on the birthing ward until noon when a
bed on the other ward became available. My baby was born at 8. They
were stitching me etc until about 9. Then I spent time with my baby.
Then they told me that they routinely give you 2 hours in the
birthing area to rest so it didn't really seem to be a problem that
there were no 'places'.

In addition it is easy to prove that it was my decision to stay as I
signed a statement that it was my choice to be treated there despite
the lack of 'places'.

I hate to sound pessimistic but we all know that on the side of the
hospital nothing is going to change so we just have to be aware of
our rights and take care of ourselves.