Woman demands N$1.5m from health ministry for childbirth injury

A 25-year-old woman is suing the health ministry for N$1.5 million in damages after she reportedly dislocated her left hip and broke her pelvis during the birth of her child in February 2019.

Then 19 years old, Whitney Snyder suffered pubic symphysis diastasis - a condition where the pubic bones separate - during childbirth, allegedly due to the 'negligent care' of the medical staff at Otjiwarongo State Hospital. This information is documented in her health passport, which was filed as part of court documents.

Snyder claimed she has been left unable to give birth naturally following the incident, experiences pain when sleeping on her side for extended periods and suffers discomfort when standing or sitting for long periods.

Traumatic experience

According to court documents, when she was nine months pregnant, Snyder started experiencing labour pains and went to the hospital seeking assistance. She was admitted to the maternity ward at approximately 07:00 on 16 February 2019. She allegedly endured a full day of pain with little assistance until around 21:00, when medical staff finally attended to her.

Despite the ‘traumatic’ experience, she delivered a healthy baby.

The next day, Snyder was transported to Windhoek for further medical examination. An X-ray revealed that her pelvic bone was broken. She subsequently underwent a six-hour operation to implant an iron plate and four screws to stabilise and repair her pelvis.

In her particulars of claim, she asserted that medical personnel, particularly the nurses, were negligent for failing to properly examine her to accurately diagnose that she could not give birth naturally without risking breaking her pelvic bone and dislocating her left hip.

Additionally, she alleged that they physically and verbally assaulted her, including slapping her face and using insulting and injurious language towards her.

Snyder said the actions of the medical staff were wrongful and unlawful, as they violated her human dignity and her right to be free from physical violence.

'Uncooperative' patient

Dr Biti Phaka was on duty and assisted Snyder in delivering her child. "I was called to the maternity ward by the nurse around 20:30 to 21:00, who claimed Snyder was not cooperating with the nurses," she explained.

In her witness statement, the doctor asserted that she had not been informed of any risks or complications regarding Snyder, apart from her being uncooperative. When Phaka arrived in the delivery room, she reportedly pleaded with Snyder to cooperate, emphasising that it was imperative for the successful delivery of her child. Snyder complied.

"She was screaming and pulling her legs together, but we supported her as best as we could. She eventually delivered her child, suffering vaginal and anal tearing with minimal bleeding. I left the nurses to attend to that," Phaka testified.

According to the doctor, shortly after she left, the nurses called her back, reporting that the post-delivery stitches were not stopping the bleeding.

According to court documents, the doctor ran back to the room to assist and realised that, despite Snyder being stable and communicating well, her tear was too deep, extending to her pelvic cavity.

Phaka claimed she and her team of nurses could not have detected the dislocation of the pelvis since Snyder had a normal and successful delivery.