17-Year-Old Girl, Newborn Baby Die Allegedly Due To Medical Negligence During Childbirth

A 17-year-old girl and her newborn baby died in a hospital in the Dominican Republic, following which the teen's family alleged negligence by the doctors.

The girl, who has been identified as Deyanira Morffe, went into labor, and was rushed to the Manuel de Luna Municipal Hospital in Gaspar Hernández. After prenatal checkups, the doctors said the delivery would take place on a different date. On the day of the delivery, the doctor, who was supposed to examine her, left the facility, Dominican Today reported.

Morffe was then rushed to Jamao Al Norte Municipal Hospital in Jamao Al Norte to give birth. Due to the baby's size, it had been advised she should get a C-section. However, the staff at the hospital forced the girl to give birth naturally, according to El Caribe [Google Translate].

The girl was unable to handle childbirth, and died while receiving medical care at the Ricardo Limardo Hospital in Puerto Plata, where she had been moved.

According to local media reports, the girl's family members alleged negligence, saying that medical malpractice led to the deaths.

It remains unclear if any formal complaint has been filed against the hospitals or the doctors. The exact date of the incident is also not known.

No official statement has been released by the hospitals involved in the incident.

Last month in India, a one-and-a-half-year-old child died while receiving treatment for burn injuries at a hospital in India. The toddler, identified as Sera Mariya Prince, suffered severe burn injuries after boiled milk fell on her on Sept. 12. Her mother was making tea in the morning when the child hugged her, causing the vessel to slip from her hand. The hot milk fell on the girl, leading to burns on the left side of her body. She was rushed to a hospital, and underwent treatment for 15 days before she died. The victim's father alleged there was negligence on the part of the staff at the hospital that led to the child's death. The father also filed a complaint against the hospital. Authorities at the hospital rejected the negligence claim, saying the child had suffered 40% burns.