Hadassah Ein Kerem: Woman, 22, dies after C-section birth

After giving birth to two healthy twins, haredi woman from Betar dies of pre-ecplampsia; family objects to autopsy of body.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
doctors operating room 311 (photo credit: HBL)
doctors operating room 311
(photo credit: HBL)
A 22-year-old woman from the haredi town of Betar died on Monday morning at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem within hours of giving birth to healthy twins.
The woman, for whom it was a first delivery, suffered from pre-eclampsia, a medical condition of pregnancy-induced hypertension with significant amounts of protein in the urine that can be caused by many factors. It is the most common among the dangerous complications of pregnancy.
She was thus kept under observation and underwent delivery by cesarean section. There is no known cure in such cases except for Caesarean section or induction of labor (and therefore delivery of the placenta).
The Jerusalem Post learned that on hand were a number of senior medical specialists in the intensive care unit when her condition deteriorated after the surgery. No internal bleeding in the abdomen or brain was found. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, she died.
As the woman was from a haredi family, it appeared there was little chance they will agree to an autopsy that would determine the cause of death. The Hadassah Medical Organization reported the tragedy to the Health Ministry, which will set up an investigatory team. The HMO said it did everything it could and expressed its deep condolences to her husband and family.