LETA news agency found out that, according to the prosecution, the midwives negligently performed their professional duties as medical practitioners, which led to the death of the woman. LETA's information suggests that the accused are Iveta Bērziņa-Martinsone and Māra Grieze.
The court found the defendants guilty of the offense and sentenced them to two years' imprisonment, suspended with probation for two years, the prosecutor's office said.
The prosecutor's office noted that the accused, being certified medical practitioners in the specialty of midwifery who, among other things, provide out-of-hospital or home birth assistance service, on July 31, 2020, came to the victim, who had gone into labor.
One of the midwives arrived first. After the baby was born asphyxiated with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and had difficulty breathing, she did not immediately call the Emergency Medical Service (NMPD).
As a result of this, the newborn was given several diagnoses, including asphyxia at birth and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.
The second midwife arrived at the parturient's home half an hour after the baby had been born. The midwives failed to record the mother's vital signs, uterine tone, postnatal blood loss, and the timing, sequence, and rate of administration of medical therapy with due care in the medical records.
When the victim started bleeding, they did not ascertain the cause of the bleeding, did not make a correct diagnosis, and, allowing unjustified delay, did not immediately call the NMPD.
When the midwives did call the NMPD more than an hour later, the victim was diagnosed with moderate hypovolaemic shock, which had progressed to severe, and was found to be in respiratory arrest after being placed in the ambulance. Resuscitation efforts for almost an hour were unsuccessful and the victim died.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the offense and expressed remorse. They have also voluntarily started to pay the compensation claimed.
The other parties involved in the proceedings will be able to appeal against the verdict to the Zemgale Regional Court.
