PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A family from Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur, is raising concerns over the treatment they allegedly received from medical personnel at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center after a pregnant woman experiencing labor pains was reportedly advised to go home, only to give birth shortly after arriving at their residence.
The incident, which allegedly happened on Saturday, was recounted by Vangie Balives in a social media post expressing her disappointment over how their request for medical attention and assistance was handled.
According to Balives, they brought the pregnant patient to the medical center after she began experiencing significant pain, believing that she was already nearing childbirth. However, the doctor on duty allegedly told them that it was not yet time for the baby to be delivered because the patient’s expected delivery date was still in December.
Balives said she pleaded with the doctor to allow them to remain temporarily at the facility, even in a tent, because the patient was still experiencing pain. Instead, she claimed that the doctor reprimanded her and questioned whether she understood that the baby was not yet ready to come out.
She further recounted that medical personnel performed an internal examination (IE) and informed them that the patient’s cervix was still closed. Based on the examination, they were reportedly told that the patient could already go home.
Balives said she continued asking the doctor to reconsider, emphasizing that the patient was still in pain and that she was worried about her condition. She also claimed that the doctor suggested the pain could be related to a urinary tract infection (UTI) rather than labor.
Despite her repeated pleas, the family eventually proceeded with the medical center’s clearance process and paid the required charges before leaving.
However, what happened next raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding the patient’s discharge.
According to Balives, the pregnant woman gave birth shortly after they arrived home. The family expressed relief and gratitude that both the mother and newborn were safe following the unexpected delivery.
In her post, Balives appealed to the medical center’s doctors and nurses to exercise greater compassion, patience and attentiveness toward patients, particularly pregnant women experiencing pain and other potentially urgent symptoms.
She stressed that families who bring patients to medical facilities are seeking professional medical assistance and should not feel dismissed or discouraged from asking for help.
The account has raised concerns about how patients experiencing possible labor are assessed, monitored and advised before being discharged, particularly when their symptoms persist.
The allegations have yet to be independently verified. No statement from the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center or the medical personnel involved was included in Balives’ account. The facility’s explanation, the patient’s clinical findings, the basis for the discharge decision and whether appropriate follow-up instructions were provided remain unclear.
While the expected delivery date and findings from an initial examination may form part of a medical assessment, the patient’s reported condition and subsequent delivery underscore the importance of careful evaluation, clear communication and appropriate patient monitoring.
The family hopes that their experience will prompt the medical center to review the incident and help ensure that other patients and their families receive the attention, respect and medical care they need.