Italian woman gives birth ten days after abortion

Stefania M, 40, began suffering abdominal pains, blood loss and a fever after undergoing an abortion at the San Camillo hospital in Rome.

Ten days after the procedure she woke up bleeding and went to the shower, where she gave birth to her dead fetus.

She was then rushed to Rome’s Gemelli hospital where the fetus was removed, Corriere della Sera reported.

The fetus, measuring 5.3cm long and still attached to an umbilical cord, was meant to have been removed at the San Camillo hospital. The woman had also undergone an ultrasound there to check the procedure had been a success, Corriere reported.

Her gynecologist, named by the newspaper as Marina De Cupis, is now facing charges of causing serious injury.

Stefania M could have died as a result of the botched abortion, while she still suffers psychological problems following the traumatic experience, her lawyer said.

Since the abortion in August 2013, lawyer Piergiorgio Assumma said his client has fallen into a depressive state and suffers from post-traumatic stress.

“Additionally, my client is terrified by the idea of having other pregnancies,” Assumma was quoted in Corriere as saying.

Medical files have been seized from both San Camillo and Gemelli hospitals, while Assumma said further evidence would be presented in court.

Citizens rights association Codici will also be a party in the civil case.