Maternal death probe findings with expert committee September 20, 2014 By GuyanaTimes Evita Reno Singh Evita Reno Singh – GPHC refutes claims of shortage of anaesthetic By Bhisham Mohamed Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran on Friday disclosed that while he was not privileged to peruse the preliminary findings of the circumstances surrounding the death of Evita Singh and her unborn child, they are being examined by an expert committee. He explained that the committee is expected to make recommendations for the effective running of the Georgetown Public Hospital as well as disciplinary action. As of now, he added that the hospital was instructed to look into several issues pertaining to administration. He recalled that one of the deficiencies of the hospital was a non-functioning theatre which he has instructed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Michael Khan to address with some urgency. Another concern, he noted, was the availability of anaesthetic which was brought to the fore following the death of the young woman. Nevertheless, the Minister said that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud was tasked with setting up the committee to look into the report and those findings will be made public shortly. He noted that the committee is working with a deadline which should expire some time soon. Ramsaran also noted that he was yet to see a copy of the report on the post-mortem examination, which was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh. However, the Minister was sure that the report was made available to the expert committee in helping them to make their recommendation and to establish who was responsible for the two deaths. Erroneous However, the CEO of the hospital told the Guyana Times that at no point in time were there any deficiencies with the operation of the theatre, saying that the allegation is erroneous. He also refuted claims that there were issues with respect to anaesthetic and noted his dismay at such reports and allegations that are circulating. Singh, 34, of Lot 13 Lathan Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, died after spending close to a week in the medical institution where she was admitted after experiencing complications in her pregnancy. Upon Singh’s admittance to the medical facility, she was placed in the maternity ward where she was treated for high temperature, which was brought under control by Tuesday, September 2. A few days after her admittance, the nurses reportedly induced labour via the use of Cytotec. It was reported that about six of the tablets were inserted into the expectant mother over a period of two days. They later claimed that Singh was not responding to the tablets and that there was no movement from the foetus. This led to the woman bleeding profusely, and subsequently suffering tremendous pains, Chandra Ramjit, the dead woman’s mother recalled. The pains were followed by strong contractions, and it was at this time it was understood that they had to perform a Caesarean Section (C-Section). Singh was taken to the labour room where the nurses attempted to deliver the child, but in the process, the bleeding became excessive. Eventually, a decision was taken to perform the C-Section, but by the time it was done, the baby was already dead. During labour, Singh lost a significant amount of blood and her heart rate had declined. She lost and never regained consciousness. The doctors reportedly told the family that Singh’s body was also rejecting the blood transfusion she had been given. A post-mortem examination performed on the body of Singh revealed that the woman bled to death due to a ruptured uterus. The relatives are holding out that if doctors had performed a C-Section on the woman from the inception, her life and her baby’s could have been saved; hence, legal action against the hospital is forthcoming. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy)
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 12:32:17 +0000
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