GPHC commences probe into infant’s death

Jan 22, 2010 News

An investigation is ongoing at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into the death of a baby boy, who succumbed some five days after his birth at the public institution. In a release issued by the hospital early yesterday it was stated that the investigation was ongoing and a statement would be issued as soon as the results are available.
The hospital’s response came in wake of an article published in the Thursday January 21 Edition of this newspaper under the headline ‘Mother blames hospital negligence for baby’s death’ which detailed primarily the circumstances surrounding the last three days of the baby’s life.
The mother of the baby, Abena Alphonso, during a visit to this newspaper on Wednesday had related a harrowing tale of carelessness and indifference on the part of attending medical officials at the public facility. The woman is convinced that her first and only child died as a result of negligence.
With distressing details, which are now being deemed “quite farfetched” by the hospital’s management, the woman had related how she had to literally beg medical officials to tend to her child who subsequently died of excessive blood loss and respiratory failure.
Prior to the publishing of the article, this newspaper had sought a comment from Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Madan Rambaran, but these efforts proved futile as a staffer who answered his cellular phone said he was otherwise engaged. However, this newspaper was able to contact Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Khan, who had related that he was unaware of the situation and was going to contact the matron. Khan had also promised to return a call having taken a reporter’s cellular phone number.
However the hospital’s release yesterday stated that the article published by this newspaper was “loaded with sensationalized materials and in Management’s view, aimed at only one purpose – further tarnishing the reputations of the dedicated and hardworking staff of the GPHC.”
The release added “the Management of the GPHC is again disappointed and appalled with the reporting tactics undertaken by some reporters of this media house.” While admitting that he was contacted about the death of the child, Khan inaccurately relayed the conversation that was had with a reporter. According to the release, the CEO explained that the matter would first be investigated before a comment can be made or a press release issued; a statement which does not reflect the conversation that was actually had.
Ironically, the release added that this newspaper published its report without affording the GPHC to express its views concerning the matter. “The statements made in the news article, it must be reiterated, were sensationalized and some even appeared quite farfetched,” the release emphasized.
It was further highlighted that a pronouncement will not be made on the matter without following the procedure of carrying out a thorough investigation of the entire matter – a practice, which it claims, seems to be uncustomary of this media house. However, it must be noted that had this newspaper intended to deny the hospital a comment, efforts would not have been made to contact either Dr Rambaran or Mr Khan.

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