M’sian woman alleges Selangor hospital delayed C-section up to 20 hours, newborn later brain dead
A Malaysian woman has accused a government hospital in Selangor of medical negligence after her newborn son was declared brain dead and died eight days later.
Mrs Lin, a 38-year-old resident of Kajang town in Selangor, said at a press conference on March 30 that her pregnancy had been progressing normally, with check-ups showing the foetus was healthy.
Doctors had estimated her due date to be about two weeks later. However, at around 4.30am on June 5 — roughly two weeks earlier than expected — her water broke, accompanied by slight bleeding, and she was taken to hospital.
According to Malaysian news outlet Sin Chew Daily, Mrs Lin maintained that although labour began earlier than expected, her pregnancy was already full-term and not premature.
Alleged delay in surgery
Mrs Lin claimed she had to wait between 18 and 20 hours before undergoing a caesarean section, which was eventually performed in the early hours of the next day.
During this time, she said she continued to lose amniotic fluid and blood while experiencing painful contractions, without receiving assistance.
When the baby boy was delivered, he did not cry or show signs of life, unlike her experience with her firstborn. He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The following day, doctors informed her that the baby had suffered oxygen deprivation for nine minutes and was placed on life support. A neurologist later confirmed signs of brain death.
Mrs Lin decided to withdraw life support, and her son died on June 13, eight days after birth.
In tears, the mother said she carried her child for 10 months, but was only able to hold him for a few days.
Bereavement payment given, no clear explanation
According to Mrs Lin, an autopsy report listed the cause of death as severe cerebral haemorrhage and brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen. No congenital abnormalities were found.
On June 24, 2025, she attended an independent inquiry organised by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH), where she was given a condolence payment of RM35,000 (S$11,160).
She stressed that the sum was not formal compensation and said she had not received a written investigation report or a clear explanation of what happened.
As a result, Mrs Lin has engaged a lawyer and plans to pursue legal action.
She said she hopes raising the issue will lead to improvements in hospital systems and prevent other mothers from facing similar incidents.
She said that while no explanation could make up for the loss of her child, she still hopes to receive a clear answer.
Call for transparency
Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki, who was present at the press conference, said the aim was not to assign blame but to seek answers from the relevant authorities.
She added that if investigations have been completed, the findings should be made public, alongside any improvements and fair compensation.
The incident, she said, should serve as an opportunity to introduce improvements and strengthen trust in the healthcare system during critical situations.
In 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court awarded more than RM8 million to a woman and her four-year-old daughter, who suffered severe and irreversible brain damage due to medical negligence during the child’s birth at a government hospital.
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