Patient suffers burns during C-section at Prague's Bulovka Hospital

On August 25, 2026, an unexpected incident occurred during an emergency caesarean section at the gynaecology and obstetrics clinic of Prague's Bulovka Hospital: a patient sustained burn injuries, hospital spokeswoman Eva Stolejda Libigerová reported.

According to her, the caesarean section was performed due to an acute obstetric complication. The mother's condition is now stable and she does not require intensive care — she is staying in a standard ward together with her baby. The hospital is investigating the incident in line with its quality and patient safety control procedures and will take appropriate measures once the review is complete. Citing patient privacy, the hospital has not disclosed further details about her condition or treatment.

Fire broke out from a surgical device

According to available information, medical staff were trying to stop the woman's bleeding towards the end of the operation. The fire reportedly broke out from a surgical device being used at the time the patient had just been treated with a disinfectant.

The woman suffered second- and third-degree burns on the inner thighs, sides, lower abdomen and genital area. Two days later, hospital staff transferred the patient to the Burns Medicine Clinic at the University Hospital Královské Vinohrady for treatment, after which she returned to Bulovka's postnatal ward.

The same clinic previously mixed up patients

A serious breach at Bulovka's gynaecology and obstetrics clinic had already occurred in March 2024, when staff confused two patients of Asian origin. A pregnant woman who had come in for a routine check-up was mistakenly given a curettage procedure and lost her baby.

An internal investigation found two staff members at fault for violating established procedures and internal rules — the hospital subsequently ended its cooperation with one of them. Police also investigated the case on suspicion of negligent bodily harm, but ultimately no charges were filed. The woman reached a settlement with the maternity hospital for compensation of 2.3 million crowns, and one of the hospital's employees lost her job over the incident.

Source: novinky.cz