Egyptian human rights groups have condemned the arrest of a former doctor – later released on bail – after she had posted testimony on social media detailing obstetric violence and mistreatment of women at a university hospital in Alexandria, where she had previously trained as a medical resident, reports The Associated Press.
The activists said that obstetric violence has long been common at hospitals offering free or low-cost medical services, and even at some private medical facilities.
Authorities had raided the home of Omnia Swaydan in the evening when she was alone and taken her into custody, said Asmaa Naeim, a lawyer following her case.
The next afternoon she was questioned in the prosecutor’s office in Alexandria on charges related to spreading false news and “misusing” social media. She was later released on $400 bail.
Naeim said that the case is ongoing and that she could be brought in again for questioning at any point or face charges, for which she might face trial and imprisonment.
The arrest came after Swaydan had posted harrowing details of abuses and violations in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of al-Shatabi Hospital, a university hospital.
Her Facebook post described incidents she had witnessed that involved women who experienced sexual assault, violence, verbal abuses and intentional medical malpractice and negligence at the hands of doctors and nurses.
She shared the testimony, she said, to encourage a serious review of working conditions and medical practices in the ward, while calling for protection for women, patients and junior doctors.
In response to Swaydan’s post, the Doctors’ Syndicate said in a statement that it had not received any official complaints about the incidents, and urged anyone with claims to file formal reports with the syndicate, the relevant regulatory bodies, hospital administration, Alexandria University, or the public prosecutor.
It said its Alexandria branch was closely monitoring developments surrounding the allegations.
Alexandria University issued a statement saying it was reviewing and investigating the accusations.
Human rights groups, including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, condemned Swaydan’s arrest, with Lobna Darwish, head of the group’s women’s rights and gender programme, saying the allegations were not unique to al-Shatabi Hospital.
Darwish told The Associated Press that obstetric violence is commonplace at public hospitals providing free or low-cost medical services. She added that it also happened at a number of private facilties.
“Unfortunately, the state treats anything that sparks public concern as a security matter,” she said. “The fact that there are many testimonies appearing online from women who have experienced obstetric violence and abuse while giving birth naturally is an indication that we have a real crisis.”
Swaydan’s testimony sparked online outrage among Egyptians, including women who came forward with similar abuses they or their family had encountered at al-Shatabi Hospital and at public hospitals countrywide.
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Mothers call for probe into obstetric violence at state hospitals