Moroccan Woman Awarded $3.25 Million in Iowa Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Over Botched Childbirth Procedure

After 6 years of legal battles, a Moroccan woman residing in the United States has prevailed in the jury trial in Scott County (Iowa). It has been recognized that she was the victim of a botched episiotomy. The surgical procedure was deemed unnecessary. It was also concluded that the attending physician failed to diagnose the patient’s condition. Fatima Belhak will be compensated $3.25 million (32 million dirhams).

The facts date back to 2014. While giving birth to her son, Fatima Belhak was the victim of a botched episiotomy performed by Dr. Denise Smith, on duty at Women’s Care Specialists in Bettendorf in Scott County. As a result, the operation left her with sequelae. She had complained to the medical staff, but to no avail.

Six months later, Fatima Belhak had to undergo reconstructive surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to repair the damage. In 2016, she filed a lawsuit against the hospital. In a statement to the local newspaper Quad-City Times, Fatima Belhak said this medical error had serious consequences for her health and that she has suffered debilitating pain, reduced mobility and other health complications for eight years.

Although satisfying, the jury’s verdict does not relieve the victim. "To be honest, this amount ($3.25 million) doesn’t mean much to me, because it won’t give me back my health or what I’ve lost," Fatima said, stressing that what really matters to her is for people to hear her, know her story and know who is to blame.