A mother who dreamed of having a large family was left with both her fallopian tubes removed after a hospital mistook her ectopic pregnancy for a miscarriage.
Melbourne couple Liz and Mouhamad Darwish were thrilled when they found out they were expecting their fourth child in early 2022.
Sadly, 10 weeks into the pregnancy, she began experiencing abnormal bleeding.
The couple rushed to Bacchus Marsh Hospital, in the city’s west, where they were told Ms Darwish had suffered a miscarriage.
‘This is life and this is how it is and we have to be thankful for our blessing and sometimes things are out of our hand,’ she told Nine News on Monday.
While still coming to terms with the loss, Ms Darwish’s health took a turn for the worst five weeks later.
She recalled getting out of the shower and suddenly losing consciousness.
Ms Darwish believes she fainted up to five times before her sons found her lying on the bathroom floor.
Melbourne couple Liz and Mouhamad Darwish (pictured together) are seeking legal action against two hospital in west Melbourne
Ms Darwish was rushed to Sunshine Hospital (pictured) after her ectopic pregnancy was mistaken for a miscarriage
The mother was rushed to Sunshine Hospital, also in Melbourne’s west, where doctors asked if she was pregnant.
‘I said no, I wasn’t pregnant, I had a cleanout five to six weeks prior in Bacchus Marsh Hospital so there was no chance I was pregnant,’ Ms Darwish said.
However, it turned out she was still pregnant.
The doctors at Bacchus Marsh five weeks earlier had missed an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube, which had ruptured.
Mr Darwish recalled facing the ‘horrific’ possibility he may become widower as his wife bled internally.
Not understanding what was happening, Ms Darwish told doctors to do whatever it took to save her life.
‘I just thought, ‘I’m not going to make it, I’m not going to make it home’,’ she said.
‘I just didn’t think I would be able to see my kids again and I thought my daughter’s going to grow up without her mum.’
The couple have three children (pictured together) but have struggled to accept the difficulties they’d face if they wanted to expand their family in the future
When she woke from surgery, both her fallopian tubes had been removed.
Typically, only the affected fallopian tube would be removed in the case of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Three years on, Ms Darwish claims the staff at both hospitals ‘got it wrong every step of the way’.
The mother-of-three is also yet to receive an explanation as to why both fallopian tubes were removed.
Ms Darwish is now taking legal action against Western Health, the owner of both Bacchus Marsh and Sunshine hospitals.
She has opened up about the ordeal in the hope it doesn’t happen to any other expectant mum.
Maryse Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis from Shine Lawyers believes her client would not have lost either fallopian tube had she received appropriate care.
‘This shouldn’t have happened, it has had devastating consequences for Liz and is something that could’ve been solved through a simple laparoscopy,’ Ms Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis said.
Doctors at Bacchus Marsh Hospital (pictured) misdiagnosed Ms Darwish with a miscarriage when she in fact had an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube
The hardest part is the significant struggles the couple would face if they want to extend their family.
‘That choice and that decision was taken away and that’s what’s hard,’ Ms Darwish said.
‘Take accountability and fix what you’ve done. Fix it so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.’
A spokesperson said that Western Health was ‘committed to providing patient-centred, high-quality care and the safety and wellbeing of our patients is our top priority’ but wouldn’t comment on the individual matter, citing privacy reasons.
Daily Mail Australia has also contacted Western Health for comment.
