Algeria to investigate death of pregnant woman refused by hospitals  

A committee of the National Council for Human Rights in Algeria is investigating the case of the death of a mother and her unborn child in the state of Djelfa who was refused medical treatment in a number of hospitals.

The committee, consisting of 40 individuals, visited the hospital of Ain and Sara which tended to the dead woman. The committee also visited Hassi Bahbah Hospital which refused to treat her and a third hospital which also refused to help the woman give birth.

The 22-year-old gave birth to a stillborn child and died the day after the birth after falling into a coma.

It is unclear why the pregnant woman was refused by the two hospitals.

A number of midwives and officials at the hospitals have since been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.