A couple in the central Taiwanese city of Taichung are suing the municipal government and the Taichung General Hospital after the death of their unborn baby.
The mother, identified as a Ms. Wang, was seven months pregnant with her 8th child.
The 44-year-old had five children by two former husbands before moving in with her current boyfriend, with whom she had two children.
According to local reports, the couple received US$600 of government aid every month. The equivalent of more than two thirds of a college graduate’s monthly salary.
The couple claims the unfortunate series of events began when they went out for a scooter ride to grab a midnight snack. There was city construction at one of the intersections they passed and the boyfriend said he drove over a sharp bump. When the couple returned home, Ms. Wang realized her water had broken and that she was spotting.
The two rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors said Ms. Wang had gone into premature labor. Doctors performed an emergency delivery, but the baby wasn’t breathing. They attempted to revive the stillborn baby, but gave up after 30 minutes.
Doctors told Ms. Wang that her child was born premature due to a placenta abruption. This is when the placenta separates from the uterus and the baby is unable to receive any oxygen or nutrients. Placental abruptions can cause premature labor and growth problems if it is minor enough to go unnoticed, or the baby can be stillborn in the worst cases.
Ms. Wang and her boyfriend are suing the Taichung city government for the unsafe road conditions which they claim caused the placental eruption and they are suing the hospital for stopping emergency resuscitation without their consent.
The couple is demanding US$350,000 in restitution. Ms. Wang says that the city murdered her baby and that they should take responsibility for their crime.
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