Governor Blames Mothers for Infant Deaths in Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital
The governor stated some pregnant women did not receive regular medical check-ups during pregnancy.
Kemerovo Region Governor Ilya Seredyuk commented on the situation involving infant deaths at Maternity Hospital No. 1 in Novokuznetsk during a live broadcast on Thursday, 22 January. The governor«s statement was shocking.
Ilya Seredyuk explained that, in his view, the public was too quick to blame the doctors, and he wanted to stand up for the medical staff. The governor believes one should not make hasty conclusions about anyone«s guilt before the investigation results are in. Seredyuk emphasized that during the New Year holidays, more than 140 births took place at the facility, and most babies were discharged from the hospital with high Apgar scores.
The governor of Kuzbass stated that he does not believe the cause of the incident was a medical error, as the infants who died in the intensive care unit had different attending doctors. The head of the region did not ask the question of what could have happened in the ICU if several infants under the care of different doctors died there simultaneously. Instead, he emphasized that the deceased infants were born premature, with some weighing as little as 600 grams. And in this, according to the governor, the mothers are to blame, as they should have taken better care of themselves.
«The mothers did not receive prenatal care, there was no medical history, no tests. It is sad to say, but some arrived to give birth by ambulance while intoxicated. We need to identify and register those pregnant women who are not receiving care,» said Seredyuk.
It should be noted that literally the day after the tragedy in Novokuznetsk became a nationwide topic, Telegram channels in Kemerovo began posting videos of joyful mothers talking about how much they liked giving birth at Maternity Hospital No. 1 in Novokuznetsk. Governor Seredyuk himself also compiled a collection of positive reviews about the maternity hospital.
Meanwhile, preliminary inspection results indicate there was no infection in the maternity hospital. However, the mass death of infants will still have to be explained. And blaming the mothers for the tragedy is unlikely to work.
We have collected reviews from Voronezh mothers about city maternity hospitals.
