Woman loses child and fertility, blames Volgograd doctors

Former prosecutor«s office employee Lyubov Merkulova lives in the small village of Kolobovka in the Leninsky District, about 70 kilometers from Volgograd. Almost three years ago, she miraculously survived a severe operation, but her unborn daughter literally choked 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 blow to her health. It didn«t help that attention to the situation was drawn by the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin. Lyubov Merkulova shared her view on the personal tragedy with a V1.RU correspondent on 21 May 2023.

“There were complaints. They weren«t interested”

Throughout her pregnancy, Lyubov lived with her son in her parents« house in the village of Kolobovka. Her relationship with the father of her first child didn»t work out, and the father of the second didn«t want a family. “He decided that you should live primarily for yourself,” Lyubov recalls.

— Upon learning of the second pregnancy, I registered at the women«s consultation of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution City Clinical Hospital No. 3 in Volzhsky, — Lyubov says. — I thought it would be better, and I didn»t register in Leninsk: anyway, here due to optimization, there«s no proper medical care. The women»s consultation 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 consultation, did not go too smoothly: according to the woman, she had increased uterine tone, but she was not offered hospitalization for preservation and no injections were given.

— The child was born at full term with low weight — 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lbs), — Lyubov recalls. — Then the doctors were concerned, but they didn«t tell me the true reason — they just promised to monitor this aspect. Later it turned out that this should have been given importance. I didn»t have any particular health problems: I went to the hospital on schedule, followed all recommendations, underwent examinations, took tests, 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 a very early stage, my pelvic bones hurt very badly, although it shouldn«t be like that, but I was told it was normal. During toxemia, I was advised 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 that it was normal. There were complaints of back and abdominal pain — it was as if they weren«t interested at all.

At 34 weeks of pregnancy, Lyubov came for fetal cardiotocography, 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 gave me the conclusion in hand, — Lyubov recalls. — Now they say that they couldn«t give me anything like that in hand. But, unfortunately, that»s a lie: while I was waiting for the gynecologist«s appointment 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 program “Beyond the Limit”:

Lyubov: I say: “Are you sure?” I asked her three times. She says to me: “No, everything is fine, the pregnancy is proceeding normally, everything, you can go home, no reason to worry.”

Host: Did you yourself have any complaints?

Lyubov: Yes. I said I had a complaint that the baby was moving a lot. She says: “No, the baby should move. If she went quiet, then yes, that«s bad.” I say she has some strange movements, she was kicking very hard. Moreover, 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: Constant, 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 reason not to trust them. The doctors said not to worry and go home — which she did.

“I didn«t feel my body. Only severe pain below”

Lyubov recalls how bad 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 satellite city of Volgograd — Volzhsky.

— 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 the stomach. Panic started for everyone. They connected me to an ultrasound machine and showed that the baby had died: I saw that it 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 didn»t even feel my limbs. They were shoving some papers at me, “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 to her.

— 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 didn»t feel my body. Only severe pain below. The next day, doctors came to me. Everyone was somewhat concerned. Of course, I didn«t understand the true scale of what had happened. Then I learned that at that time a council of doctors had been assembled. 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 program “Beyond the Limit”:

Vladimir Sursyakov (gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences): With placental abruption, a condition such as Couvelaire uterus develops. This is when the uterus is soaked 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. Therefore, it«s truly 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 have, of course, helped the patient. But when the choice is between losing a life or removing the reproductive organ, we, of course, do the most important 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 on this day the head doctor was on duty. Usually we don«t save such cases,” — Lyubov recalls. — In Moscow, they later told me that it»s simply a miracle — to survive. When it«s gynecological bleeding, mostly women die. I really came back from the other side.

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

— I can«t give birth to children on my own, but I was only told this 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 wasn«t 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 doesn«t know the cause of the placental abruption and the occurrence of 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 distress, 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 have time to save, but when it»s closed, you don«t even know what»s happening inside you. One girl told me that after such a thing, her child is disabled. I was also told that if they had done the operation 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 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 didn«t exist, just as there was no 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, let us recall, was under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital.

— It turns out, in the medical record there is a document about the pathological-anatomical examination of the placenta after the birth of the first child, — Lyubov says. — There were problems indicated: in the first pregnancy, the utero-placental blood flow was disturbed, which could also lead to the death of the child.

However, most of her questions were about that very CTG, which caused incomprehensible emotions in the nurse a few days before the fateful day.

— Many who looked at this CTG said that there is a problem, but we won«t say about it — they, supposedly, have medical solidarity. Medical cases are all 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. It«s trauma, that»s why they asked [about it]. It«s a frequent situation, like after an accident during first birth. It»s some changes, disorders in vascular systems, such as connective tissue dysplasia, which provokes vessel bleeding — they just burst quickly. Therefore, 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 in an absolutely normal pregnancy.

It is worth noting that the program«s expert Vladimir Sursyakov, having familiarized himself with the CTG results, stated that he does 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 sent a statement to law enforcement agencies requesting that doctors be held accountable for the negligence committed 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 achieve the initiation of a criminal case. It was initiated 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 accelerates.

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 deadlines should be conducted only in 2027. It turns out, all medical examinations that the Investigative Committee appoints go like that, — 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 the provision of medical care, but did not find a connection with harm to health, and did not make a conclusion about who is to blame at all. There is even an indication that on 17 May there were no pathologies. How can that be, if on that day I wasn»t even at an appointment? 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 that experience mean, if in my opinion they conducted the examination poorly and unconscientiously? 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 quit before starting the case, and the third…

— He stopped communicating with 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 apply in person in Volgograd for an appointment with the head of the Investigative Department of the ICR for Volgograd Region, Vasily Semenov. And what will a personal appointment give me? I just want to see the result, for a normal examination to be appointed, for the case to move forward.

“One way or another, you live with this and will never forget”

Now Lyubov lives with her son still in the same village of Kolobovka, literally in the next house from 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 experiences a shock, — Lyubov admits. — Blood pressure rises and then drops sharply. Unexplained ailments. Last year it was so bad that I went to the hospital. They explained it as hormonal adjustment. 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, kidney problems will likely 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 conclusion to the investigation.

— I«m not seeking fame. I don»t need it. I want people to answer for this, especially since real harm was done to me. Morally, I return to this situation every day. There isn«t a day when I don»t remember it. And you«ll never forget 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. We even recorded video appeals only on the second try: the first time I shook.

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

Investigation is ongoing

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 ICR information center, 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 ICR information center 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. Bastrykin also instructed the Forensic Expert Center of the ICR to speed up the production of the medical examination.

— In the Investigative Department of the ICR 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, — was said then in the message of the information center. — In the Federal State Institution “Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation”, a commission forensic medical examination is being conducted. In addition, a procedural check was conducted in the regional investigative department 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 conducted examination, as well as on Lyubov Merkulova«s arguments.

The V1.RU editorial board sent an official written request to the Investigative Department of the ICR 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.