The Health Affairs Directorate in Jazan is investigating the case of a pregnant woman who had to give birth in her husband's car because three hospitals in the city refused to admit her.

Hadi Madkhali, 58, said his wife began feeling contractions and pain so he took her to a private hospital south of Jazan.

“The private hospital confirmed to us that my wife will be in labor soon. The doctors there transferred my wife to Abu Uraish General Hospital. However, the doctor who examined her at Abu Uraish Hospital said she was not in labor yet even though she had been in pain,” said Madkhali.

He added he took his wife home on the doctor’s advice.

“She had been feeling extreme pains throughout the night. I took her to King Fahd Central Hospital the next morning. The doctors there immediately took her to the delivery ward, but they then came back saying she wouldn't be in labor sooner than three days,” said Madkhali.

He said all the while his wife was in excruciating pain.

“The next day I returned to Abu Uraish Hospital and begged them to admit my wife because she was in deep pain. They were adamant in their decision not to admit her. I was literally dragged out the hospital,” said Madkhali.

He said he then took his wife to Uhud Al-Masariha Hospital.

“By then my wife was almost unconscious and unable to walk. I put her on a wheelchair and took her inside the hospital. The doctor there wouldn’t admit her still. I had no choice but to return to Abu Uraish Hospital. On the way there, my wife went into labor and started shrieking with pain. She gave birth to our new daughter in the car. I rushed the mother and child to the hospital,” said Madkhali.

He also said the hospital took my wife in and put her in a room that had three empty beds, meaning the hospital had space at the time when the doctors refused to admit her.

“Despite all the suffering, I never filed a complaint. Someone had taken a video and posted it on social media and it went viral. People began reaching out to me asking me what had happened. I wish my daughter would grow up to become a doctor so she would treat her patients in a more humane way than my wife was treated,” said Madkhali.

SOURCE : SAUDIGAZETTE