Alleged medical malpractice reported at Marcelino Vélez Santana Hospital
A 24-year-old woman, identified as Katiuska Brito, has made a public complaint of alleged medical negligence after undergoing surgery for an ectopic pregnancy at the Marcelino Vélez Santana Hospital. According to the patient’s testimony, the process was marked by irregularities and complications following the surgery.
Brito explained that on August 30th, she went to the hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain. After an ectopic pregnancy in the left ovary was confirmed via sonography, the patient claims to have experienced a long wait before being operated on. The young woman questioned why the procedure was not performed by the attending physician, but rather by a person she described as having little experience.
From 10 in the morning I had to wait until almost 4 in the afternoon to be operated on. When the doctor arrived from an errand he was running, I was operated on by a girl who looked like she was still an intern. It wasn’t even the doctor who operated on me.
Katiuska Brito
After being discharged on September 1st, Brito’s health condition worsened significantly. The patient reported that she began to feel intense pain in her pelvis and abdomen, in addition to denouncing precarious conditions in the hospital facilities, specifically pointing out water leaks in the postpartum area.
Health complications and economic burden
Subsequently, the young woman was transferred to the San Bartolomé Hospital in Neiba, where she was diagnosed with a staph infection. According to her statements, the surgical wound remains open due to the severity of the bacteria, which has complicated her recovery.
I have the bacteria in the C-section I had, and the wound remains open as it is completely infected. Currently, I am even holding a raffle to be able to afford the medications.
Katiuska Brito
Brito also expressed concern by pointing out that, during her recovery process, medical staff attempted to close the infected wound prematurely, even though the antibiotic treatment required a longer period to be effective. Currently, the young woman is facing financial difficulties, as her health insurance has stopped covering part of the necessary medications. To cover the expenses, which already exceed 10,000 Dominican pesos, she has had to resort to charity activities and raffles.
It is important to highlight that these accusations are based on the testimony of the affected party. To determine any type of legal or administrative liability, it is essential to have the official clinical documentation and the due process of investigation by the competent health sector authorities.
