Doctors missed vaginal wound as woman bled to death, court hears

Two obstetricians who attempted to resuscitate a woman who bled to death hours after giving birth did not see an 8cm laceration inside her vagina while treating her for the sudden massive bleeding.

Andrew Yu, a private obstetrician, told the second day of an inquest at the Coroner's Court that he did not notice any tear on Livia Chui Wai-yan, 36, even when he was conducting an emergency hysterectomy at Adventist Hospital as a result of the bleeding.

He said he did not have a chance to open the vagina to check until after Chui's condition had deteriorated.

Robert Stevenson, a private obstetrician who was at the hospital when Chui started haemorrhaging and attempted to resuscitate her, wrote in a report later that he also had not noticed a vaginal tear.

The laceration was 8cm long and 3cm deep, the court heard.

Chui's inquest is being held before Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu, with Dr Yu and Dr Stevenson testifying to the court.

Chui was admitted to Adventist on January 9 to give birth several weeks ahead of full term because Dr Yu, her obstetrician, was worried the baby would be too big for vaginal birth if she waited.