An internal audit after the death of two newborns in Litoměřice revealed deviations from the recommended procedures for childbirth and resuscitation. The police are still investigating.
An internal inspection at the hospital in Litoměřice after the death of two newborns last year showed that the medical staff deviated from the recommended medical procedures. On Wednesday, Krajská zdravotná (KZ), under which the hospital falls, informed about this on its website. At the Midwifery Center (CPA) there, at the end of November, doctors resuscitated four newborns within 24 hours, two of whom died. The police investigation continues, writes TASR reporter.
- Four newborns were resuscitated in the Litoměřice hospital, two subsequently died.
- An internal audit revealed deviations of medical professionals from recommended medical treatment procedures.
One of the audits was focused on medical procedures and the management of health documentation, another checked the technical functionality of devices, the availability of equipment, personnel capacities and communication between doctors. Doubts appeared especially with the first of them. “The first audit… identified errors in the affected births and resuscitations in the form of deviations from recommended medical procedures and the recommended use of some medical preparations,” KZ said.
Identified medical malpractice
According to the second audit, all technology was available and functional, there is room for improvement in the area of communication and cooperation between obstetricians and paediatricians, according to the results of the inspection.
According to the head of the company, Tomáš Hrubé, based on these findings, it is not possible to determine whether errors caused the deaths of both newborns. He pointed out that the KZ does not have the results of the autopsies, which are crucial for determining the exact cause. The police and the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child in Prague have them, which prepares an external expert opinion for the investigators.
Precautions and next steps
In response to the first audit, Hrubý determined several preventive measures to prevent a similar situation from recurring. For example, he ordered the health workers to strictly follow the recommended procedures, and any deviation from them must be justified in writing. Another measure is mandatory seminars on newborn resuscitation and regular training for all who care for children in the hospital.
According to Hrubé, KZ is in contact with the families of the newborns who died, and as soon as the police completes the investigation and determines the exact cause of death, the company is ready to take responsibility and start proceedings with the families regarding possible compensation.
