Fetus Dies After Pregnant Woman Denied Local Hospital Care

An expectant mother, 29 weeks pregnant, was transferred over 280km to Busan after being unable to find a hospital for emergency delivery, resulting in the tragic death of her fetus. The patient's side attempted to contact about 10 hospitals with both obstetrics and pediatrics specialists for emergency care, but six of them refused to admit her, citing reasons like a lack of specialists. An official from a university hospital stated it was difficult to accept the patient due to the absence of an obstetrician to assist with delivery. The six hospitals' refusal to admit her, citing a lack of specialists, reportedly led to the missed window for appropriate treatment.

After searching nationwide, emergency services airlifted the mother to a university hospital in Busan, over 280km away from Cheongju, at 2:25 AM, four and a half hours after fetal distress was detected. An obstetrician who had been treating her accompanied her during the transfer to assist with the emergency delivery, but the fetus ultimately died.

A similar incident occurred in Daegu in March. A pregnant woman carrying twins wandered for four hours seeking a hospital, resulting in the death of one twin and brain damage to the other. The repeated failure of pregnant women in emergency situations to find hospitals has led to loss of life.