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Death of woman at Berbice clinic…Doctor sent on administrative leave as probe continues
The doctor at the centre of a reported botched abortion that claimed the life of 22-year-old Kamili Arjune, on Good Friday, has been sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud
At least, this is according to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who revealed that the matter is one that is currently gaining the attention of the Guyana Medical Council.
The woman, who was a mother of four, was pronounced dead after she was attended to at a privately operated clinic in Port Mourant, Berbice.
“I passed this case on immediately to the Medical Council because there were several breaches,” said Dr. Persaud when asked to comment on the matter this week. He said that among the breaches is the fact that the doctor in question was not licenced to perform the abortion, neither was his private clinic certified to conduct the medical termination of pregnancy.
Another breach, he disclosed was the fact that the doctor had not reported the woman’s death within the stipulated 24 hours.
Dr. Persaud had told this publication that it is required by law that once a pregnancy-related death occurs, it should be reported to his office. “Any woman who dies during any stage of pregnancy or up to 42 days after delivery, must be reported to the relevant authority (the CMO’s office),” said Dr. Persaud.
Dead: Kamili Arjune
He said that it is expected that such deaths within Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 must be reported within 24 hours. While those that occur in the hinterland Regions, must be reported within 72 hours.
But, according to Dr. Persaud, he first learnt of the matter after it was reported in this newspaper.
While the doctor in question operates his own private clinic, he is also employed at the Port Mourant Hospital, according to Dr. Persaud. “I understand from the Regional Health Administration they have already placed him on administrative leave.”
But according to the CMO, the doctor’s fate is in the hand of the Guyana Medical Council. “I will obviously await directions from the Council because his licence is critical. They will decide what they will do and then we will move from there onwards.”
Without certification, the actions of the doctor could be classified as misconduct or malpractice, which will attract disciplinary measures from the Guyana Medical Council.
Should the doctor be found guilty of causing the woman’s death, the Council, according to Dr. Persaud, could mete out sanctions such as a letter of reprimand, suspension of licence (determined by both the Council and the Minister of Health) or he could be struck off the Council’s list of doctors eligible to practice in Guyana altogether.
A post mortem examination conducted on Arjune was inconclusive and the pathologist has sent samples for further testing. But, according to one of the dead woman’s relatives yesterday, the family had not received any further information on Arjune’s death. “We called just yesterday and they say that they ain’t get no word yet,” a relative told this publication.
The dead woman’s mother, Kowsilla Arjune, during a meeting with the CMO and then Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, was assured that a thorough investigation into her daughter’s death will be conducted.
According to the woman, her daughter, a Surinamese national, was the eldest of her three children. And she disclosed, too, that the health officials were particularly concerned that the doctor who attended to her daughter did not do sufficient tests, if any, to determine whether her daughter was strong enough for the intended procedure.
“They said that he had no nurse assisting him,” the woman related to this publication.
As such, the woman said that the Minister promised that the matter will be investigated thoroughly. “I need justice for my daughter…that is all I want right now,” said the woman.
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