Yojaimi Garcia, 20, pregnant of triplets waits her turn to undergo a caesarean section at the Santa Ana public maternity hospital in Caracas October 23, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by
Yojaimi Garcia, 20, pregnant of triplets waits her turn to undergo a caesarean section at the Santa Ana public maternity hospital in Caracas October 23, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by the United Nations. Picture taken October 23, 2011. Reuters

An anaesthetist in New Zealand faces severe criticism from the medical fraternity after he refused to give more pain relief to a pregnant woman undergoing caesarean, and instead asked the surgeon to continue with the operation while the woman screamed in pain.

A young woman, now aged 27, gave horrifying instances of how her legs had to be held down by the nurses as the surgeon performed c-section on her to deliver her baby in February 2013. The anaesthetist as well as the surgeon is likely to face legal action.

The first-time mother, who was given an epidural or pain reliever before her surgery felt unbearable pain while the operation was being carried out. "My pain was very real and of a totally unacceptable level during abdominal surgery," Yahoo! News quoted the woman as telling the health and disability commission.

According to Commissioner Anthony Hill, the decision to go in for an immediate lower segment caesarean section had to be taken after the woman went into spontaneous labour last year. The woman in her statement said that when ice was placed on her body to test whether she felt any sensation, she "felt it was very cold" and told them so. In spite of that, the anaesthetist asked the surgeon to go ahead with the surgery in two minutes. When the obstetrician tried to pull the baby out, the woman lifted both her legs and began kicking violently. No action was taken even when the woman complained of unbearable pain and was told by the anaesthetist that it was just the pressure. He further told her that more pain relief might put her baby at risk.

The woman continued to experience pain as the surgeon was stitching her up and when she told him, the anaesthetist ignored it and only said, "It will be over soon." It was only the next day that the surgeon informed the woman that the pain she experienced during the surgery was "not normal" and advised her to complain if she wanted. Recollecting the memories, the woman told the commission that she had nightmares for months and cannot imagine of delivering another baby.

Stuff.co.NZ quoted Hill as saying that the anaesthetist had breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights by failing to provide services to the woman with the required care and precision. He was also accused of being insensitive, falling short of accepted standards and displaying a lack of empathy, and was referred to the Director of Proceedings for further legal action. The anaesthetist on his part argued that it was a very high pressure moment and he had to decide to avoid further complications.

Hill also pointed finger at the surgeon who he thought should have acted with more authority when the woman complained of pain, and accused her of failing to provide services with reasonable care and skill, thereby breaching the code. However, the surgeon said that she was being blamed for somebody else's conduct. Meanwhile, the District Health Board said it would review all the policies and protocols for epidural anaesthesia.