Chita Woman Sues Health Ministry Over Stillborn Baby

A resident of Chita is suing the Ministry of Health of Zabaikalsky Krai — in 2022, her full-term baby was born dead when she was 23 years old. The family demanded 10 million rubles (approximately $100,000 at current rates) in compensation for moral damages. This was reported in the Telegram channel «Krovavaya Barinya,» and the information was confirmed by the regional health ministry in response to a request from Chita.Ru.

During pregnancy, the woman registered at the women«s consultation clinic of the State Healthcare Institution »City Maternity Hospital« under a doctor»s supervision. She was suspected of having a «large fetus» diagnosis and was verbally told that she had a narrow pelvis. According to the woman herself, at the consultation clinic, her pelvic measurements were not taken; such an examination was first conducted only in the delivery room. At 39 weeks, the baby died in utero.

A forensic medical examination concluded that the fetal death was related to errors by the doctors at the women«s consultation clinic, who did not change their observation tactics despite serious complications.

The fetus showed signs of intrauterine hypoxia several weeks before birth. Experts noted that the woman did not undergo Doppler ultrasound (an ultrasound diagnostic procedure — Ed.), chronic placental insufficiency was not diagnosed, and she was not referred for hospitalization.

The press service of the health ministry told Chita.Ru that, according to autopsy data, the cause of the child«s death was placental disorders.

The ministry conducted an unscheduled inspection at the City Maternity Hospital and identified violations in the procedure for providing medical care in obstetrics and gynecology. The maternity hospital was issued an order to eliminate the violations. What specific violations occurred was not stated in the response.

The ministry did not report whether there is a causal relationship between the lack of Doppler ultrasound and the fetal death.