INGLEWOOD (SBE) – An Inglewood hospital is under scrutiny after federal regulators found they violated federal requirements that jeopardize patients.
According to the LA Times, investigators Centinela Hospital “failed to properly assess and treat birthing patients to reduce the risk of blood clots”, according to a state review.
April Valentine died on January 10 of this year after experiencing complications during childbirth at Centinela Hospital. Her daughter Aniya survived.
“Aniya is going to have to grow up without her mother,” said Mykesha Mack, her cousin. “She was supposed to come out of that hospital with her baby and DIDN’T. I had just spoken to and prayed for her to have a safe and healthy baby, I didn’t think I would lose her. She always wanted to be a mom and was so excited to raise her baby. My heart is so broken man.”
The family gathered at the hospital demanding justice after they alleged the staff ignored her pleas for assistance.
“We are hoping to publicize this to cause a systemic change in all hospitals,” said Michael Mack, who is also April’s cousin. “Her death is still under investigation so we can’t talk about that.”
The state review of the hospital followed after Valentine’s death made headlines across the state.
According to The Times, the Los Angeles County coroner has yet to release a cause of death for Valentine.
The state recorded its findings in a survey dated Feb. 18 that showed the hospital did not take appropriate steps to address blood clots, which could be deadly.
Centinela Hospital was faulted for nurses failing to tell a doctor when a patient in labor had concerning readings for their own vital signs or that of the fetus, as well as not following up when the patient complained of “leg heaviness.” The violations had “a potential to result in harm due to delayed treatment,” the team concluded.
At the time Valentine’s family wasn’t at liberty to discuss the details surrounding her death but her best friend Cheyenne Ne’Shay, posted on social media that April complained for hours about experiencing numbness in her legs.
The hospital has not received any financial fines due to the federal violations.
Read the full LA Times article here.