Mum seeks daughter C-section death probe

KHON KAEN: A woman is demanding someone be held accountable for the death of her daughter after a Caesarean section delivery at Chum Phae Hospital went wrong, but doctors insist they did their best.

Praiwan Promwang, 56, from Chum Phae district, said yesterday no one would take responsibility for the death of her 22-yearold daughter Kanjanaporn Promwang.

Kanjanaporn had sought prenatal care at the clinic of a doctor at Chum Phae Hospital and was admitted to the hospital on Feb 23. As the baby was poorly positioned in the womb it was delivered by C-section that morning.

“Soon after she underwent surgery, a nurse told the family Kanjanaporn’s heart had stopped beating, but that resuscitation was successful. The baby was a healthy boy weighing 2.8 kilogrammes. Afterwards she was placed in the intensive care unit and was then referred to Khon Kaen Hospital that same evening,” Ms Praiwan said.

Kanjanaporn died at Khon Kaen Hospital on March 8.

Ms Praiwan said the surgeon said her daughter had an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic.

After she was admitted to Khon Kaen Hospital, doctors took an X-ray which showed she had a lung infection. Khon Kaen Hospital attributed the death to amniotic fluid embolism syndrome (when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream), which made the family suspicious, she said.

“The family then met the surgeon, seeking help and compensation. The doctor showed understanding but had no money. She gave us a box of powdered milk. The family rejected it and filed a complaint with police,” Ms Praiwan said.

Dr Kriangsak Wacharanukulkiat, director of Chum Phae Hospital, said amniotic fluid embolism syndrome was rare during delivery, but there was only a minimal chance of survival.

“The woman was in a critical condition,” Dr Kriangsak said. “Doctors were mobilised to give the best help. Doctors took an X-ray and carried out a computerised tomography scan and confirmed that the woman experienced amniotic fluid embolism syndrome.

“She was admitted to ICU and treated until she was ready for referral the same evening. The patient was unable to survive the effects and died.”