Volga Woman Blames Doctors for Lost Child and Infertility

Former prosecutor«s office employee Lyubov Merkulova lives in the small village of Kolobovka in the Leninsky District, about 70 kilometers from Volgograd. Nearly three years ago, she miraculously survived a severe operation, but her unborn daughter literally drowned due to internal bleeding. Lyubov herself might not have been saved. “Thank God the head doctor was on duty; we usually don»t save such cases,” they told her in the intensive care unit. But after that operation, 37-year-old Lyubov will never be able to give birth again.

All these years, Lyubov has been trying to achieve justice, but the investigation still cannot find those responsible for the death of her unborn daughter and the harm to her health. On 21 May 2023, Lyubov Merkulova shared her view on the personal tragedy with a correspondent from V1.RU.

“There Were Complaints. They Weren«t Interested”

Throughout the pregnancy, Lyubov lived with her son in her parents« house in Kolobovka village. Her relationship with the father of her first child did not work out, and the father of the second did not want a family. “He decided that one must live primarily for oneself,” Lyubov recalls.

“Upon learning of the second pregnancy, I registered at the women«s clinic of GBUZ GKB No. 3 (City Clinical Hospital No. 3) in Volzhsky,” Lyubov says. “I thought it would be better, and I did not register in Leninsk: after all, due to optimization, we have no proper medical care here. The women»s clinic was only fully opened this year, and for all tests and examinations, I had to go to the city.”

The first pregnancy, for which Lyubov was registered at the same women«s clinic, did not go very smoothly: according to her, she had increased uterine tone, but she was not offered hospitalization for preservation or given any injections.

“The child was born at full term but underweight—2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds),” Lyubov recalls. “At the time, the doctors were concerned but did not tell me the true reason—they just promised to monitor it. Later it turned out that this should have been taken seriously. I had no particular health problems: I went to the hospital on schedule, followed all recommendations, underwent examinations, took tests, and came to the gynecologist on time.”

During the second pregnancy, Lyubov had certain health complaints that, according to her, were not recorded anywhere, although she told the doctor about them.

“From the very early stages, my pelvic bones hurt very badly, although it shouldn«t be like that, but I was told it was normal. During toxemia, I was recommended to eat rye crackers. On that day at the gynecologist»s appointment, I said that the baby was moving too actively, to which I was also told it was normal. There were complaints of lower back and abdominal pain—it was as if they weren«t interested at all.”

At 34 weeks of pregnancy, Lyubov came for fetal cardiotocography (CTG), and then she was supposed to be examined by a gynecologist.

“The nurse, when she received the CTG results, looked at them strangely, was surprised, said I needed to see the gynecologist urgently, and handed me the conclusion,” Lyubov recalls. “Now they say they couldn«t give me anything like that. But, unfortunately, that»s a lie: while I was waiting for the gynecologist in the corridor, I took a photo of this conclusion. The gynecologist took it somewhere for about 10 minutes, then she returned and said everything was fine. She conducted an examination: weighing, blood pressure check, and that«s all.”

From video in the TV show «Za Granyu» (Beyond the Limit)

Lyubov. I said: «Are you sure?» I asked her three times. She told me: «No, everything»s fine, the pregnancy is progressing normally, all good, you can go home, no reason to worry.«

Host. Did you have any complaints yourself?

Lyubov. Yes. I said I had a complaint that the baby was moving too much. She says: «No, the baby should move. If she went silent, then yes, that»s bad.« I said she had some strange movements, she was kicking very hard. And there should be periods when the fetus is active and when it rests, but this, it turns out…

Host. Was it constant for you?

Lyubov. Constantly, yes. It happened often. Especially on that day and the next. But I was assured that everything was fine.

Lyubov admits: the doctors« attitude seemed strange to her even then, but she had no grounds not to trust them. The doctors said not to worry and go home—which she did.

“I Couldn«t Feel My Body. Only Severe Pain Below”

Lyubov recalls how badly she felt three days later. On 21 May, her stomach hurt unbearably. Over the phone, a midwife said to go urgently «to the city.» That is, to the maternity hospital, in the city—Volzhsky, a satellite city of Volgograd.

“Through the emergency room, I could barely walk. And they made me go up to the third floor. The head doctor saw this and immediately shouted, like, why not on a gurney and «she has placental abruption.» I don«t know, maybe she determined it somehow by the shape of my belly. Panic started for everyone. They connected me to an ultrasound machine and showed that the baby had died: I saw that she was already floating in fluid. Inside everything was filled with blood. They decided to do an emergency operation, and at that moment, I was, so to speak, passing away—I couldn»t even feel my limbs. They were shoving some papers at me, «you need to sign»…”

In that short period while Lyubov was being prepared for emergency surgery, the only thing she worried about was that her mother would worry for her if something happened.

“I woke up the next day in intensive care,” Lyubov recalls. “I didn«t understand what was happening, and no one really talked to me. I couldn»t feel my body. Only severe pain below. The next day, doctors came to me. Everyone was kind of concerned. Of course, I didn«t understand the true scale of what happened. Later I learned that a council of doctors had been convened at that time. I was, one might say, near death because I lost a lot of blood. It turned out to be a Couvelaire uterus—internal bleeding.”

From video in the TV show «Za Granyu» (Beyond the Limit)

Vladimir Sursyakov (gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences). With placental abruption, a condition like Couvelaire uterus develops. This is when the uterus is saturated with blood and can no longer contract. And without contractions, bleeding continues. And you have a maximum of 2 minutes to run to the operating room, open up, and stop this bleeding. It«s a catastrophe.

Host. After these two minutes, if this isn«t done, the patient dies?

Vladimir Sursyakov. Absolutely correct. So it«s really a miracle that she was saved. They really had no chance to save the uterus. 90%.

Anna Mgoyan (reproductive specialist). If colleagues could have done something, they would, of course, have helped the patient. But when the choice is between losing a life or removing the reproductive organ, we, of course, do the main thing—save the patient«s life.

Such cases as Lyubov«s are extremely dangerous for women in labor and pregnant women. Often, the uterus has to be removed. That»s what happened to Lyubov.

“On the very first day, someone from the medical staff came to me and said: «Thank God that the head doctor was on duty that day. Usually we don»t save such cases,«” Lyubov recalls. “In Moscow, they later told me it was simply a miracle—to survive. When it»s gynecological bleeding, women mostly die. I really did return from the other side.”

Lyubov lost a lot of blood—“almost all of it,” as she says herself. Transfusions were done during the operation and the next day as well.

“I can«t give birth to children on my own, but they only told me that on the third day, by the head doctor. It was devastating for me. They were still shoving papers at me, something needed to be done with the baby. I couldn»t even bury her myself because by law she was not yet a person. Naturally, no one issued a birth certificate. They asked about disposal… I couldn«t say anything, and the pressure was very strong.”

The recovery path was difficult, and Lyubov still does not know the cause of the placental abruption and Couvelaire uterus.

“At that time, I was swollen, about twice my normal size. I learned to walk again—there were incredible pains, I couldn«t even step on my feet, and they hurried me with walking because there would be consequences if I lay all the time. The head of the maternity hospital studied my documentation, the exchange card. Then she said: »We don«t understand why this happened. Your health is good.» But I think they know: they let slip about some vessels and all that.”

“Are You Really Alive?”

It took Lyubov several months to come to her senses. She tried not to show her feelings, but inside she was tormented by the question: “Why?”

“After I started dealing with this case, I began to find people who are exactly like me. That is, they are also sent home, although complaints are expressed,” Lyubov says. “If it«s open bleeding, you can manage to save, but when it»s closed, you don«t even know what»s happening inside you. One girl told me that after such, her child is disabled. They also told me that if they had operated on 18 May, the baby could have been disabled.”

Lyubov recalls how in August she went to see the head doctor at the hospital.

“She even said to me: «Are you really alive?», hugged me—didn«t expect it, in general. Then I didn»t show up: I was dealing with my health, coming to myself. It was very difficult to sort out this situation, understand the reasons… In September, I requested my documents, the exchange card. And, to my surprise, I discovered that in the documentation, there was an ultrasound protocol for 15 May, which did not exist, nor was there an appointment for it. The investigation later established that the document was forged. They simply pasted it in when I was lying there, dying. On 15 May, I wasn«t even at the hospital; I came the next day, took tests.”

Not only that surprised Lyubov in the medical documentation returned to her, but also the record of the first pregnancy, which, recall, was under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital.

“It turns out, in the medical record, there is a document on the pathological autopsy of the placenta after the birth of the first child,” Lyubov says. “Problems were indicated there: during the first pregnancy, there was impaired uteroplacental blood flow, which could also have led to the child«s death.”

However, she had the most questions about that very CTG that caused unclear emotions in the nurse a few days before the fateful day.

“Many who looked at this CTG said there is a problem, but we won«t say it: they supposedly have medical solidarity. All medical cases are difficult because it»s hard to find someone who will help you and go against their colleague. One told me: «Just don»t name us, but go fight«—and showed what the problem was. It turns out, on that day (18 May, 3 days before the tragedy.—Ed.) I had signs of the onset of labor.”

From video:

Host. What most often causes placental abruption?

Vladimir Sursyakov. Some chronic diseases, inflammatory ones. Trauma, that«s why they asked [about it]. It»s a frequent situation, as happened after an accident during first births. Some changes, disorders in vascular systems, such as connective tissue dysplasia, which provokes vessel bleeding—they just burst quickly. So abruption occurs.

Host. Can this be noticed on ultrasound?

Vladimir Sursyakov. Only when it has started.

Host. On CTG?

Vladimir Sursyakov. The same. We see signs that may correspond to the onset [of abruption], or there may be exactly the same signs with a completely normal pregnancy.

It is worth noting that the show«s expert, Vladimir Sursyakov, after reviewing the CTG results, stated that he did not see signs of the onset of labor. However, they could have been seen if an ultrasound had been performed that day.

“The Investigator Was So Angry When I Called”

Lyubov Merkulova filed a complaint with law enforcement agencies requesting that doctors be held accountable for negligence on 26 October 2023. A month later, on 27 November, a criminal case was opened in the investigative department for Volzhsky.

“It was difficult for me to get a criminal case opened. It was opened only after my appeal to Alexander Bastrykin,” Lyubov explains. “Then it was hard to make sure that a forensic medical examination began. It was appointed only after I went on a TV show. Then the documents were sent, and silence: deadlines unknown, nothing is being done. Again, I recorded a video appeal to Alexander Bastrykin—the process speeds up.”

The medical examination appointed by the Investigative Committee, according to Lyubov, might not have taken place for a year.

“The examination was appointed in 2024 and by terms should be conducted only in 2027. It turns out, all medical examinations appointed by the Investigative Committee go like this,” Lyubov explains. “It turns out, even if guilt is established based on the examination results, these people still won«t answer for anything because the statute of limitations expires. If, for example, a court appoints an examination, it is conducted, say, within a month. Here it doesn»t work like that—they drag it out for years.”

The examination results surprised Lyubov in a bad way.

“The experts did not consider it necessary to answer my questions and partially did not answer the investigator«s questions. They established defects in medical care but found no connection with causing harm to health, and did not make a conclusion about who is to blame. There is even an indication that on 17 May there were no pathologies. How can that be if I wasn»t even at an appointment that day? I point out these errors in the examination to the investigator, but he rejects everything and points out that the experts have 15 years of experience. And what does this experience mean if they conducted the examination, in my opinion, poorly and dishonestly? If they have experience, does that mean they will always be right?”

In almost 2.5 years since the criminal case was opened, three investigators responsible for the investigation have changed. The first responded to Lyubov«s calls and letters, the second resigned without starting the case, and the third…

“He stopped contacting me. Probably annoys him,” Lyubov says. “He was so angry yesterday. I called from another number. As soon as he heard «Merkulova,» immediately: «I can»t talk to you.« In such an angry voice. And that»s it, hung up. Didn«t answer anymore. I also wrote to the management, but I was offered to personally apply in Volgograd for an appointment with the head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for Volgograd Region, Vasily Semenov. And what will a personal appointment give me? I just want to see results, for a normal examination to be appointed, for the case to move forward.”

“One Way or Another, You Live With This and Never Forget”

Now Lyubov lives with her son still in the same village of Kolobovka, literally in the house next to her parents«, where she experienced the tragedy. She has to fight not only for justice but also for her health.

“After such operations, the body goes through a shock,” Lyubov admits. “Blood pressure rises, then drops sharply. Unclear ailments. Last year it was so bad that I went to the hospital. They explained it as hormonal restructuring. I, for example, will age faster than an ordinary woman. Over time, eggs will stop being produced, so they hurry with surrogacy. Menopause will occur prematurely. Within three years, most likely, kidney problems will begin. Health has been taken away, and there«s no way to evaluate it.”

The only thing Lyubov has wanted all these years is to achieve a logical completion of the investigation.

“I«m not seeking fame. I don»t need it. I want people to answer for this, especially since I was really harmed. Morally, I return to this situation every day. There isn«t a day when I don»t remember it. And you never forget about it. One way or another, you live with it. For some reason, it doesn«t go away; you can»t forget. Especially when you start writing to them again, you return to all these events. Even the video appeals we recorded only on the second try: the first time, I shook.”

“All my relatives say: «How can this be? You went to give life, and in the end, you lost both yourself and the child,»” Lyubov says. “I said goodbye to life back at that moment when I was going to the hospital because I felt I was dying. My mother told me: «It can»t be«—and kept calming me down. And I felt I was dying, understand? I feel I»m leaving. But no one believed me, although at that moment I really had one foot «there.» Maybe there is a God in the world, and something saved me.”

Investigation Is Underway

Note that the chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, has paid attention to Lyubov«s case at least four times. The earliest mention that the V1.RU correspondent managed to find dates back to 1 November 2023. Then, according to a message from the SIC of the IC, a procedural check was organized—it was also put under control in the central apparatus of the department.

The next mention—1 June 2024: Alexander Bastrykin demanded a report on the criminal case.

Further, on 31 March 2025, Alexander Bastrykin gave a number of instructions on the case. The message from the SIC of the IC also notes Lyubov«s complaint about the “protracted nature of the investigation.” Instructions were given to present a report on the progress and results of the investigation, to open a criminal case on the fact of falsification of medical documents. Also, Bastrykin instructed the SEC of the IC of the Russian Federation to expedite the production of the medical examination.

“In the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Volgograd Region, a criminal case is being investigated regarding the improper provision of medical care to the applicant, on which A. I. Bastrykin previously instructed to present a report,” it was said then in the message from the SIC. “In the Federal State Institution «Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation,» a commission forensic medical examination is being conducted. Moreover, in the regional investigative department, a procedural check was conducted on the report of falsification of medical documentation.”

Very recently, on 14 January, Bastrykin again instructed to present a report on the progress of the investigation, the results of the examination, as well as on Lyubov Merkulova«s arguments.

The V1.RU editorial office sent an official written request to the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Volgograd Region with a request to comment on Lyubov«s words about the protracted nature of the investigation and to clarify at what stage the investigation is now. At the time of publication, no response had been received.