Prague Hospital Investigates Abortion on Wrong Patient
April 1, 2024 Health
Serious medical error: officials at Bulovka University Hospital are investigating a serious incident in which a pregnant woman underwent an abortion procedure she did not consent to. The woman, a foreigner in her fourth month of pregnancy, arrived for a routine check-up on March 25th.
Communication Breakdown Cited as Possible Cause
A language barrier between hospital staff and the patients involved is suspected to have contributed to the error. According to health expert Jan PÅ™áda, a Czech-speaking patient would likely have questioned unfamiliar procedures. The specific languages used during communication remain unclear.
Internal Review Launched
Following the incident, the hospital suspended staff responsible for the mix-up and launched an internal investigation. David Marx, chair of the Czech Society for Quality in Healthcare, emphasized the need for a thorough review to prevent future occurrences.
Ministry and Hospital Respond
The Czech Health Ministry expressed deep regret for the "undesirable incident" and confirmed the removal of involved staff members. Bulovka spokeswoman Eva Stolejda Libigerova acknowledged a violation of internal protocols and stated the hospital's commitment to holding individuals accountable. The Ministry also reported the hospital's apology to the patient and family, along with offers of compensation.
Police Investigate
Local authorities are treating the case as bodily harm, according to Radio Prague International.
Abortion Laws in the Czech Republic
For context, abortion is legal in the Czech Republic up to 12 weeks for any reason, up to 24 weeks for medical reasons, and throughout pregnancy in cases of fetal abnormality.
Similar Thing Happened in 2019
This case follows an incident in South Korea in 2019, where a doctor performed an abortion on the wrong patient due to a failure to confirm identity.