US woman in South Korea pregnant with twins loses 1 baby, other suffers brain injury after 7 hospitals reportedly refused emergency care

An American woman who was 28 weeks pregnant with twins lost one baby and saw the other suffer a brain injury after seven hospitals in South Korea reportedly refused to admit her during a medical emergency, according to reports by Chosun Daily and VN Express.

The woman had supposedly been seeking urgent treatment for more than four hours while experiencing severe labour symptoms.

Ambulance reportedly unable to find hospital for nearly an hour

The woman began experiencing severe abdominal pain on the evening of Mar. 1 while staying at a hotel in the city of Daegu.

Her husband first contacted a local obstetrics clinic at about 10:16pm but was advised to go to a university hospital because she had no prior medical records there, Seoul Economic Daily reported.

When her condition worsened after 1am, he called emergency services.

An ambulance arrived about 10 minutes later, but paramedics reportedly spent around 50 minutes trying to locate a hospital willing to accept her.

According to VN Express, seven major hospitals in Daegu declined to admit the patient, citing reasons such as a lack of obstetricians and insufficient facilities to treat newborns.

Family drove hours to another hospital instead

Her husband eventually decided to drive her to Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, where she had previously received treatment.

During the journey, relatives continued calling emergency services in other regions to try to secure care.

The family later met another rescue team around 3:20am, but the patient transfer was delayed due to miscommunication between emergency units.

By the time she was transferred to another ambulance at about 4:42am, her water had broken and her blood pressure was dropping sharply.

She arrived at the hospital at about 5:35am, more than four hours after the initial emergency call.

One twin died, second suffered brain injury

Doctors delivered the babies via emergency caesarean section.

The first baby died less than a day later due to oxygen deprivation, while the second is receiving intensive care, according to broadcaster KBS.

The mother survived.

Authorities say investigation underway

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is taking the case very seriously.

“After the pilot program for reforming the emergency patient transfer system ends, we plan to expand it nationwide.”

A health authority official also told Seoul Economic Daily that authorities are “gravely aware of the problem of emergency room refusals” and plan to improve patient transfer systems.

The family is reportedly considering filing a lawsuit against the state.

The case comes amid growing concerns about hospitals declining emergency patients due to shortages of staff, equipment and beds.

Data from South Korea’s National Medical Center shows the number of cases labelled “unable to accept patient” rose from about 59,000 in 2023 to nearly 120,000 last year.

Top image via Canva, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital/Instagram