THANK YOU, MATERNITY WARD
(Publication Date: January 26, 2007)
I’m not a doctor...
I’m certainly no midwife.
My only connection with the health sector is when I’m sick.
That aside, I’m
a good driver.
***
Last week, an incident occurred
that saddened us all!
A patient who had a C-section
lost her life...
The debate continues over whether the young mother died because she had a C-section, due to a doctor’s error, or for some other reason.
It’s not my area, so
I won’t say much about it.
The only thing I’ll say is this: My heartfelt condolences to the Fellahoğlu family.
But in the shadow of all the debate,
there were people with other concerns.
I was one of
those people.
*
The incident we all wished had never happened involved a doctor who is an expert in the field and whom everyone I asked described as “a very good doctor.”
As you know, I became a father
a few days ago.
Our doctor was also the doctor
whose name was mentioned in the incident.
Because of the death that occurred one day before our baby was due, we didn’t know what to do.
We were completely
in limbo!
Because my dear wife and I
wanted a normal birth.
Those were the days when the birth could happen at any moment.
When we went to our doctor’s clinic—he must have been feeling extremely low, I imagine—we couldn’t get a chance to speak with him, and we couldn’t reach him by phone either.
And we had to make a decision
that day.
Would we go to the doctor we’d been seeing for checkups for nine months—whom we couldn’t reach because of the incident, but whom we trusted despite everything—or would we consider the other options?
After many phone conversations with my father-in-law, who is also an obstetrician, we made our decision: since he could only get a ticket for Friday evening, if anything happened before he arrived (he lives in Istanbul), we would go to the state hospital; after he arrived, he would deliver the baby himself.
Our little one decided not to wait for his grandfather and wanted to arrive on Friday morning, so we rushed to the hospital.
On the way to the hospital,
I noticed something!
Some drivers out on the road, driving among us, don’t know what the hazard lights—known colloquially as “the four-way flashers” and fitted to every car—are for!
In all the excitement, as I tried to get my wife to the hospital as quickly as possible, I momentarily forgot this and turned on my car’s hazard lights, thinking people would give way.
I saw that nobody cared, so I started honking my car’s horn.
Naturally, the other drivers didn’t understand that either, and this time they started gesturing at me from their cars.
If I hadn’t been in a hurry, I’d have known what to do with them; but the lady in question was about to give birth.
Anyway, I got their license plate numbers. We’ll have a word sometime...
Let’s get back to the point.
As we did after the incident that deeply hurt us all, let’s not hurt people with gossip.
In any case, the truth should be shared with the public quickly and transparently.
Countries around the world are taking measures as the number of cesarean births increases.
I’m not getting into the debate over whether a normal birth or a cesarean is better.
There’s only one thing I can say about this: one is called “normal,” while the other is called “cesarean.” I think that gets the message across!
In my view, the debate on this issue should focus on whether the clinics currently providing these services are adequate.
Also, as you know, from time to time in this column I address the shortcomings at Lefkoşa Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital.
My recent experience showed me once again that having a state hospital to turn to is a great blessing.
I’d also like to thank everyone working in the State Hospital’s Maternity Ward.
To be honest, I had a lot of doubts on my mind as we headed to the hospital; but the care the staff there showed my wife and our baby put those doubts and worries to rest—and I was a little embarrassed by what I’d thought.
On top of all that, my son was born in the hospital, and as far as I could tell, I didn’t lose any of my charisma...
So don’t be afraid...
See you Monday... Be considerate in traffic! (Pay particular attention to hazard lights; there may be a patient in that car...)
All the texts and other content on this page are original and belong to Cem KAR. They may not be used, even in part, in any printed or other electronic medium (CD, Internet, etc.) without permission.