Two doctors in the Sicilian
city of Catania have been suspended for several months after
they were found guilty of not performing a Caesarean section to
avoid having to remain after their regular work schedule.
They did this "despite several incidents of fetal distress".
They also reportedly gave the mother atropine to make the
medical exam seem normal.
The procedure and the fact that they did not inform their
colleagues on the shift afterwards seriously harmed the infant.
The doctors, from the Santo Bambino hospital, are: Amalia
Daniela Palano (suspended for 12 months) and Gina Corrao (for
6).
Dr Paola Cairone was also suspended for four months since,
"though she did not know what had happened before, she used
uterine fundal pressure (Kristeller maneuver) twice, which is
not permitted by the guidelines, and despite results that were
not reassuring. She also did not contact the infant specialist
in time, who performed resuscitation only after a lengthy
delay."
"We suspended the three medics immediately," hospital manager
Paolo Cantaro said, " and we are trying to replace them to
continue providing a public service in the Santo Bambino
hospital, which many women turn to every year."
He added that an internal investigation would be conducted.
The Catania prosecutor's statement noted the "editing of
hospital records after a clinically important event" as a
"practice established by the medics" to "hide the proof of
medical responsibility".
Cantaro said that "there is an investigation by the judiciary
and an internal one by our hospital. Let's wait until both end
before expressing any judgments."
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