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A pregnant prisoner had to wait two weeks before she could see a midwife. Now the Correctional Service is sharply criticized by the Ombudsman for Justice (JO).
The woman was placed in an institution when she was found to be pregnant. She got an appointment with a midwife, but the visit was canceled after she was transferred to another institution.
Because of that, it took two weeks before the woman was able to see a midwife. The prison service nevertheless thought that the visit took place within a reasonable time.
“I find it difficult to understand that point of view,” writes JO in his decision.
According to JO, the prisoner should have been able to see a midwife as soon as possible and at the latest within a week of the positive pregnancy test.
JO also believes that it should have been considered if the relocation could have waited until the woman had met the midwife in the first facility. If the relocation could not wait, she should have been able to see a midwife sooner than what happened at the new facility.
The correctional service has not acted sufficiently to ensure that the woman received the maternity care she needed in time and also did not show her the consideration she should have received, writes JO, who is very critical of how the woman was treated.