A 37-year-old woman undergoing kidney treatment at Changzhou First People’s Hospital was forced to terminate her pregnancy after doctors allegedly failed to detect she was four months pregnant before administering hormone medications. The hospital maintains the abortion wasn’t directly related to her renal treatment.
The Patient’s Account
Li, who was admitted on March 11 for abnormal urine protein levels, claims she informed doctors about her missed period before undergoing a kidney biopsy on March 13. “I specifically mentioned my menstrual cycle concerns because I knew surgery couldn’t be performed during menstruation,” Li told reporters from Upstream News.
Over subsequent monthly checkups, Li repeatedly reported continued amenorrhea, which doctors attributed to hormone medications. It wasn’t until June 2 that a gynecological examination revealed her 15-week pregnancy. Due to the medications taken, Li underwent an induced abortion on June 6, delivering a stillborn male fetus.
“Had they tested for pregnancy initially, I might have chosen different treatment options to save my baby,” said Li, who is still hospitalized. Medical records show Li had a history of chronic nephritis treatment since 2019, taking various medications including irbesartan and dapagliflozin.
Hospital’s Response
The hospital stated Li had been taking pregnancy-contraindicated drugs like irbesartan long before admission. “Her last menstrual period was February 13, just 20 days before admission, with no reported missed periods or pregnancy plans,” the hospital explained in a written response, justifying why pregnancy tests weren’t conducted.
Officials emphasized Li’s high-risk pregnancy history and chronic kidney condition made the pregnancy dangerous regardless of recent treatments. “The termination decision was made by the patient and family after comprehensive risk assessment,” the hospital stated, denying direct correlation between the abortion and renal procedures.
Medical Expert Opinion
A Jiangsu-based OB-GYN expert consulted by Upstream News explained that kidney patients planning pregnancy should undergo multidisciplinary evaluation. “Medications like irbesartan require immediate discontinuation when pregnancy is suspected due to proven fetal risks,” the specialist noted, adding that kidney biopsies remain crucial for pre-pregnancy assessment but carry manageable risks during pregnancy if properly performed.
The hospital continues discussions with Li regarding her concerns. Medical records indicate Li had two previous high-risk pregnancies in 2007 and 2018.
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