Medical negligence alleged in Bukhara childbirth tragedy

A video circulating on social media alleges that a woman from Bukhara tragically lost her life while giving birth. The video features an appeal from a man blaming the incident on the negligence of medical workers. In response, the Bukhara Regional Health Department has issued a statement addressing the situation.

The deceased, born in 1992 in the Karakul district, was admitted to the Bukhara branch of the Republican Institute of Obstetrics and the Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Maternal and Child Health (Perinatal Center) on December 12, 2024, at 9:50 p.m. She reportedly exhibited symptoms of a severe cold, including a cough, a fever of up to 38°C, amniotic fluid leakage, and general weakness.

"The patient had anemia during this pregnancy and underwent surgery in the 14th week to treat hepatic echinococcosis," the health department noted in its statement.

Medical staff conducted comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examinations. Specialists, including a pulmonologist and a therapist, were consulted, and treatment was administered in accordance with national medical standards. The patient’s delivery was managed under these guidelines, with no indications for a cesarean section.

However, complications arose on December 13, 2024. At 7:00 a.m., the patient’s fever spiked to 38°C, prompting the administration of paracetamol and additional consultations with a pulmonologist and surgeon. Labor accelerated by 2:25 p.m., and the woman delivered a baby girl. During the third stage of labor, Oxytocin (10 IU) was administered. Despite initial success, uterine hypotonia developed after the placenta’s separation, leading to significant blood loss.

The patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly at 3:05 p.m., with signs of respiratory failure and skin cyanosis. She was declared biologically dead at 3:15 p.m. Forensic medical examination later confirmed the cause of death as amniotic fluid embolism.

An internal investigation was conducted with experts from the Bukhara State Medical Institute and the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Maternal and Child Health. Disciplinary measures were taken against staff members found to have committed errors in medical record-keeping. Specifically, the head of the center’s second maternity ward and the attending obstetrician-gynecologist were fined 30% of their average monthly salaries and reassigned to other departments.

This incident follows a similar tragedy in November 2023, when a baby was stillborn at a maternity hospital in Tashkent due to alleged medical negligence. The recurrence of such cases highlights the urgent need for systemic improvements in maternal healthcare.