Horror stories from the delivery room
As a graduating Nursing student, my sister has had opportunities to witness first-hand the state of our public hospital services, and I have particular interest in her delivery room (horror) stories and of some doctors she had assisted, who treat their patients very harshly and rudely. I call these horror stories because tales of ghosts, ghouls and white ladies are child’s play compared to real psychological and emotional effects of demeaning treatment from venerated figures in society, such as doctors. The buzz is that such harsh treatment is especially true in our public tertiary hospitals frequented by low-income families, and the popular ones at that.
One scary story my sister shared was when she witnessed a patient in labor in the delivery room of a public hospital. The medical intern was urging the patient to push, and berating the patient that she obviously didn’t know how (for a first-time, less privileged mother not able to afford Lamaze classes, what else could the intern expect?). In humiliation, pain and frustration, the patient pushed the intern away and attempted to push on her own. Seeing this, the attending doctor grabbed the patient by her hair, shook the patient’s head, telling her in Bisaya not to do that to her intern. There are other horrific incidents my sister witnessed, which appear to be accounts of verbal abuse from some doctors to patients. Other accounts are so demeaning to the patient, that I’d rather not print them here.
Curiosity led me to research documented accounts, and I chanced upon a published article: "Women's access to reproductive health services in a public hospital in the
For the study, research was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of a public tertiary hospital frequented by low income women in the
Women complained about the poor and impersonal treatment meted out by staff during labor and delivery. "They should understand that labor pains can be very painful. So I shouted every time I could not bear the pain. Women are not the same, some women can bear the pain but some cannot. The doctors covered my mouth with a diaper cloth. I really felt very bad with this insensitive treatment," said a rural housekeeper of 23 years who had three children through normal delivery.
"I felt like I was a pig in a slaughterhouse where women fall in line for every procedure. At the IE room everything is rushed and the doctor is insensitive. Why don't you spread your legs wider? ... move fast, because there are still others waiting! ... okay you're done, next! The procedure is painful, but their rude treatment is even more painful. I don't want to be treated like this", said one woman.
Women interviewed generally cited negative and unpleasant experiences with regards to care and services at the hospital. Women often hesitated to express feelings and complaints to health providers for fear of rejection or rude treatment. Their views were confirmed by the attitudes of doctors who were often judgmental.
On the other hand, doctors interviewed said both doctors and nurses are overburdened with workload. "We are institutionally abused and not given proper working conditions with too many patients per doctor, inadequate facilities and support staff. The husband just looks on and asks us to take care of his wife as he has no money," said one doctor. Apart from a challenging workload, doctors cited other problems, including lack of supplies, inadequate equipment, shortage of staff and 'difficult clients'.
But do such conditions allow some doctors the right to treat patients in demeaning ways? To think, less privileged patients in public hospitals are known to be meek, submissive and faithful in the doctors’ abilities, so why are they received so rudely? Is this the kind of doctor-patient relationship we should expect from our public hospitals? I certainly hope not.
This why my sister and I don’t like watching horror movies in the cinema. We see enough horror in real life.
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