Comedian's Postpartum Hemorrhage Struggles Highlight Systemic Emergency Care Gaps as National Assembly Passes Reform Bill

Comedian Lim La-la, who gave birth to twin siblings, revealed that she experienced the so-called "emergency room roulette" in a critical situation due to postpartum hemorrhage.

Lim La-la and her husband Son Minsoo uploaded a video on the couple's YouTube channel 'Enjoy Couple' on the 26th of last month, stating, "We feel that words are insufficient to express our apologetic and grateful hearts for worrying many people."

Prior to this, Lim La-la gave birth to twins on the 14th of last month and, after nine days, suddenly experienced bleeding, leading her to pass through the emergency room and be admitted to the intensive care unit.

Son Minsoo said, "Many of you must have been shocked to see La-la being taken to the emergency room. She is now recovering," adding, "I was told that when pregnant with twins, the uterus expands so much that bleeding can occur during contractions."

Lim La-la stated, "It was postpartum hemorrhage," explaining, "There was no mistake in the cesarean section. I gave birth on the 14th and was recovering well. After completing my final obstetrics checkup and even being told to 'walk a lot,' I suddenly experienced heavy bleeding and went to the emergency room."

Regarding the reason for uploading this video, she said, "Some viewers might criticize us for filming a video in this condition. After experiencing it, I felt that 'such incidents should not be repeated,' so I turned on the camera. I am speaking out with the hope that things will genuinely change and improve."

Recalling the urgent situation during the postpartum hemorrhage, Lim La-la said, "There were no hospitals willing to accept a mother in such a critical condition due to postpartum hemorrhage," adding, "Since no emergency room would accept us, we eventually had to travel for 30-40 minutes to the hospital where I had given birth. I think I fainted around 10 times during the trip."

She continued, "I remember feeling saddened by news reports of mothers dying while being shuttled between emergency rooms in ambulances, and it seems nothing has changed. Experiencing it firsthand, I thought it was absurd," pointing out, "These days, there's a lot of talk about low birth rates, but what's the point of discussing it if the lives of babies and mothers aren't guaranteed?"

At the time, Lim La-la lost consciousness multiple times and reportedly repeated opening her eyes with difficulty upon hearing the paramedics and Son Minsoo shouting, "Stay conscious!"

Lim La-la said, "The long period of being told to stay conscious when I couldn't was extremely painful," adding, "With so many hospitals near my home, I wondered why none would accept me, thinking, 'Who would give birth if this is how it is?'"

Finally, she added, "Without the paramedics, I would be dead now. I don't wish for anything else; I just hope no one else has to go through what I did," emphasizing, "The process of giving birth is risking one's life, and many serious situations can occur. I hope the environment improves so that swift measures can be taken in such cases."

On the same day, the National Assembly passed a revision to the Emergency Medical Service Act aimed at improving the "emergency room roulette" situation, where emergency patients in ambulances are shuttled between hospitals unable to accept them. The revision was approved with 260 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 261 members present. The revised bill includes provisions to establish a 'hotline' (dedicated line) allowing paramedics transporting emergency patients to quickly contact emergency rooms and confirm patient acceptance.

Lim La-la Recalls Life-Threatening Emergency Room Roulette After Twin Birth