MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE ABOUT A DOWN'S SYNDROME PREGNANCY IN AN AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC HOSPITAL

There is a story of great love and Christian faith here about a couple who had a pregnancy with a Down's syndrome child which they refused to abort. After various scans had been done in utero, great pressure was put on them to abort, including an incompetent diagnosis that the condition was complcated by microcephaly. The couple held fast to their faith and are now delighted with their perfectly healthy little Down's syndrome girl. With modern methods of care, Down's syndrome children can of course reach near-average levels on intelligence and are generally very good natured. Below is just one small excerpt from the story:

"Into our tale now lumbers Dr Hunt, Neurologist, a gentleman who somehow managed to be aloof and oafish at the same time.

Mrs Y's expanding abdomen had for a second time undergone an MRI scan, and we went back to the Royal Children's Hospital to see Dr Hunt and discuss it with him. It didn't start off well. We were greeted with a remark something like, `who are you and what do you want'. He hadn't discussed our situation with Miss Maixner, or even looked at the previous MRI scan. He hadn't read the file. He hadn't even read our names.

The scan results were there. He looked at them while we looked over his shoulder. He read the summary of the previous results, and promptly declared that the condition was unimproved. In other words, get the flower bed ready, your vegetable is coming.

I'm still angry about this unspectacular piece of doctoring. We looked at the scan together, and I think he just came to the easiest and laziest conclusion. Needless to say, I have no medical training - being a mere man and not one of society's lofty demigods - but unlike Dr Hunt I had actually carefully scrutinised the first MRI scan. It was obvious at a glance that this scan was very different. The cavity was much smaller, and the brain area much bigger.

He ought to have been in less of a hurry to stomp out our unrealistic false hopes, and should instead have stomped down the corridor to his colleague's office. That would be the minimum you'd expect from a medical professional wouldn't it?

After all, for all he knew, a child's life may have depended on it....."







HAVING A NORMAL BABY IN AN AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC HOSPITAL CAN BE "CHALLENGING" TOO

This from Australia's largest State -- New South Wales -- and refers to an outer suburb of Sydney

Just last month, the Health Minister, John Hatzistergos, and the Premier, Morris Iemma, had a tour of the new 36-bed maternity unit at the beleaguered Campbelltown Hospital. It was a happy occasion billed as "their first official visit together". "Every year more than 2000 babies are born at Campbelltown Hospital," Mr Iemma said during the visit, less than six weeks before this Saturday's byelection in the Macquarie Fields electorate, which the hospital serves. "This new, enlarged unit is designed to cater for the population growth in the local community." The $3.26 million redevelopment featured "six single and 15 two-bedroom maternity suites, all with ensuites," an August 10 statement said.

Eight of those 36 beds are now closed indefinitely as continuing plumbing and building problems mean they are unsafe for new mothers. In some rooms there is no running water or no hot water. In others the toilet does not flush. In one brand new room there is a large, discoloured hole in the ceiling caused by a leak from the floor above. Dr Mary Prendergast, a visiting obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital, said the conditions were unacceptable for patients and staff. She said it was particularly astounding "to see this in a hospital where you've just had an inquiry into your level of care". Dr Prendergast said the room closures, combined with staff shortages, were compromising women's care.

At times of high demand, women who gave birth in the delivery suites could not be accommodated on the ward and stayed in the delivery room for prolonged periods. In turn, that could mean women in the early stages of labour might be advised to wait longer at home instead of being admitted.

Marion Downey, a spokeswoman for Sydney South West Area Health Service, which administers the hospital, said: "Minor building problems in the area are being addressed and beds are gradually being opened as demands for service increases.".....

The room where on-call doctors sleep has a large hole in a wall above the bed, a roughly stripped floor with loose patches of carpet and no bathroom facilities. "The area where this accommodation is sited is being refurbished in the next month," Ms Downey said. Mr Hatzistergos confirmed that maternity services had continued while the $3.26 million redevelopment of the women's and babies unit at Campbelltown Hospital was taking place.....

Campbelltown and the associated Camden hospitals have been investigated by the Health Care Complaints Commission after staff nurses alleged there had been numerous incidents of negligent patient care. Five doctors are facing suspension or deregistration as a result of those investigations.

More here

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

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