Mayhelm González, a 32-year-old Venezuelan migrant residing in Guyana, expressed her satisfaction with the decisive disciplinary actions taken by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) against medical workers who mistreated her during labor on January 18. “While this won’t bring back my daughter, I’m pleased to see that justice was served. Even as a Venezuelan, my voice was heard, and those accountable will face consequences for their actions. I take pride in having achieved justice for my experience,” she shared.

Following an independent review, three doctors at GPHC faced disciplinary measures for not adhering to established protocols. The senior doctor responsible for the shift has been terminated due to their inadequate supervision, which contributed to the lapses in care. Additionally, two other doctors with senior oversight have been suspended for 28 days.

The investigation was initiated after González formally lodged a complaint regarding alleged negligence and mistreatment, which included emotional and verbal abuse from the hospital staff. She recounted a distressing incident where a doctor forcefully pressed their elbow into her abdomen and warned her that her baby would die if she did not push.

González, who runs a business at City Mall, stated that she pleaded for a cesarean section after enduring hours of distress. Despite her inability to move, she was reportedly compelled to walk to another bed for the surgery. Furthermore, she claimed that her baby was born at 19:00h on January 18, but the hospital’s records inaccurately indicated a birth time of 18:00h.

The hospital administration has since met with González to provide a comprehensive update on the investigation’s findings and the corrective measures implemented. The family expressed their satisfaction with the steps taken. GPHC, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Robbie Rambarran, committed to ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.