Can you imagine rushing to a hospital after a miscarriage, then being denied the care that you need? That’s exactly what happened to this mother, and sadly, she died as a result.
“As long as it’s alive, I will not intervene”
Valentina Milluzzo, 32, from Italy, had only been pregnant with twins for 5 months when she suddenly went into labour.
She was eventually admitted into the hospital where it was found that one of the twins had developed breathing problems. Her condition also worsened.
According to the family’s lawyer, the doctor who was treating her apparently refused to abort the fetuses in order to save the mother.
He adds that the doctor said, “As long as it’s alive, I will not intervene”. Valentina suffered a miscarriage hours after and then she died a day later.
The hospital disputed the family’s allegations
According to the head of the hospital where Valentina was admitted, the family’s allegations were incorrect.
Other doctors in the hospital added that the doctors were all against abortion and that in cases wherein an abortion would be necessary, they would get a doctor from another hospital to conduct the procedure.
They add that it wasn’t needed since it was a “spontaneous miscarriage.” Abortions in Italy are illegal beyond 12 weeks unless the mother’s life or the fetus’ life is at risk.
Additionally, in a report earlier this year, 70% of doctors in Italy actually refused abortions. This statistic isn’t uncommon as Italy is a primarily Catholic country.
Losing a child from miscarriage
Image source: iStock
For any family, losing a child from miscarriage is a terrible thing. Sadly, studies say that 25% of recognised pregnancies end in a miscarriage.
Additionally, most miscarriages happen during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, as this is the most crucial time during a pregnancy.
Miscarriages happen due to many different factors. These can include:
- Problems with maternal health, hormonal problems, or an infection.
- Smoking, drug use, malnutrition, and exposure to harmful substances or chemicals.
- The mother’s age. The older a woman gets, the higher the chances that a miscarriage will happen.
- Trauma to the mother’s uterus.
Additionally, here are some warning signs to look out for:
- Severe abdomen pain that’s worse than menstrual cramps.
- Sudden loss of weight.
- Contractions happen every 5-20 minutes.
- Bleeding red or brown without having cramps.
If you suffer a miscarriage, know that you’re not alone. There are a number of mothers that have had previous miscarriages but went on to give birth to a healthy child.
Remember to keep positive, consult your doctor, and know that it’s not your fault.
*This article is from our archives.
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