In a serious medical error, a pregnant woman was wrongly subjected to an abortion intended for another patient at Bulovka University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic on March 25. This incident has sparked numerous investigations and widespread criticism from health officials and the general public.
The woman, four months into her pregnancy, was attending what she thought was a routine check-up. Due to an error, she was mistakenly sedated and underwent a curettage process—a surgical method used for abortions—that was meant for another patient. Following this procedure, the woman suffered a miscarriage, a tragic result of a severe lapse in medical professionalism.
Jan Přáda, a renowned gynecologist and vice-chairman of the Czech Medical Chamber, pointed to a language barrier as a factor in this regrettable incident. He suggested that a Czech-speaking patient might have been able to resist an unfamiliar procedure, hinting at communication problems between the hospital staff and the patient in this incident, who was a foreigner. The specific languages spoken during these interactions remain unknown, adding complexity to the situation.
Bulovka University Hospital responded promptly to the incident. Eva Stolejda Libigerova, a spokeswoman for the hospital, acknowledged a “serious violation of internal regulations” by the staff that led to this grave error. The medical personnel involved—nurses, doctors, a gynecologist, and an anesthesiologist—have been suspended while an investigation is underway. The hospital intends to conduct a thorough analysis to avert such incidents in the future, with David Marx, chair of the Czech Society for Quality in Healthcare, highlighting the need for an in-depth analysis to identify and rectify the causes of this event.
The Czech Health Ministry was immediately informed about the incident and expressed its “deep regret” to the affected patient and her family through spokesman Ondřej Jakob. The ministry labeled the case as an “undesirable incident,” revealing that the hospital had apologized to the patient and her family and is willing to offer compensation.
This incident brings up pressing issues regarding patient safety and procedural checks within healthcare facilities, particularly when there are language barriers. In conversation with Seznam Zpravy, a Czech media outlet, gynecologist Jan Přáda emphasized the vital importance of clear communication between healthcare providers and patients, especially in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
The police are now involved, treating the case as one of bodily harm. This legal perspective underscores the seriousness of the error and its physical and emotional toll on the victim.
Such incidents are not unique. Similar cases have happened worldwide, highlighting the difficulties of patient identification and language communication in healthcare settings. A 2019 incident in South Korea, where a doctor performed an abortion on the wrong woman due to failure in verifying her identity, is a notable parallel.
As investigations continue, the healthcare community in Prague and beyond must confront the implications of such errors, stressing the need for rigorous protocols and communication strategies to prevent future incidents.