CNDH Issues Recommendation to IMSS for Denying Medical Attention to a Woman During Labor

The lack of medical attention caused the newborn to hit her head.

According to information published by the media, on April 21, 2019, the victim gave birth on the access to the hospital, while her husband was requesting medical attention. The lack of assistance caused the newborn to hit her head on the floor, so the father of the family lifted his daughter and broke the glass door until health personnel came to provide support.

Upon investigating the case, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) found violations to the human rights to a life free of violence in the form of obstetric violence and to health protection, since the child was born in unsanitary conditions, without medical or nursing conditions, in addition to the emotional damage caused to her parents.

Likewise, this National Organism warned that even when the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) opened an investigation into these facts, it only took into account the clinical records of the victims’ care, but failed to analyze the lack of support during childbirth. Therefore, it requested the Director General of the IMSS that, in coordination with the Executive Commission for Attention to Victims, to make full reparation to the victims, including fair and sufficient compensation, and to provide them with psychological care, as well as to collaborate with the complaint filed before the Internal Control Organ against the medical staff responsible.

It should also train all such hospital’s medical personnel in the rights to health protection and to a life free of violence in the form of obstetric violence; give courses to the workers of the Head of Legal Services of the Guanajuato State Delegation on women’s rights, gender violence and the State obligations in this matter, and create a permanent program to prevent and attend to similar cases.

More information:
https://www.cndh.org.mx/sites/default/files/documentos/2021-05/COM_2021_125.pdf