Abdullah Al-Ghalbi Okaz/Saudi Gazette ABHA — A Saudi mother accused a doctor in the maternity department of Mahayil General Hospital of dislocating the shoulder of her infant, while assisting during birth. She said that her 15-day-old infant is in critical condition, and suffering from severe pain. The doctor treated the infant's shoulder and justified the problem as being routine. He claimed that the shoulder will return to the normal position in three months and there was no cause for worry. The woman took her baby to a private clinic and the doctor recommended that the infant be referred to a specialist hospital as his condition seemed critical. Saeed Al-Neqair, spokesman for Asir Health Affairs, said the patient had three previous normal births. She was scheduled to have a Cesarean delivery this time, but gave birth naturally. During the delivery, the infant's right shoulder was stuck. The doctor had to pull the infant to assist delivery. The infant's shoulder was x-rayed, and the shoulder was not broken. He added that the doctor could have performed a Cesarean, but preferred natural birth, according to medical norms. He said the infant would recover within a few weeks without any complications. This problem occurs frequently, he added, when an infant's shoulder obstructs the birth canal.
