Death of four-year-old at GPHC...Medical Council says yet another probe launched

Death of four-year-old at GPHC…Medical Council says yet another probe launched

Dec 07, 2014 News

– as massive vigil streamlined to mark one-year anniversary

Another investigation into the death of four-year-old Jaden Mars, who died under questionable circumstances

Nathalie Caseley displays photos showing the deterioration of her son at the GPHC

at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) almost a year ago has reportedly commenced.
This development was intimated to mother of the deceased child, Nathalie Caseley, via a correspondence she received from the Guyana Medical Council last week.
But according to Caseley in an interview with this publication, “they seem to be stalling.”
She is convinced that rather than taking definitive action, efforts are being made to ‘wear her down’. She disclosed that the Medical Council in its correspondence to her stated that the renewed investigation into her son’s death will see all parties involved in her son’s demise being interviewed. This is in spite of the fact that several investigations at the level of the Hospital and the Ministry of Health had found glaring evidence of negligence in the treatment Mars received at the public health institution.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, had told this publication that he was satisfied that investigations conducted offered sufficient information for action to be taken at the levels of the Nursing and Medical Councils.
This publication was informed that one nurse who attended to the child was sent on administrative leave, while at least three doctors involved in the case have remained on the job.
Caseley, since her son’s demise, has remained relentless in her fight for justice and has even retained Attorney at Law Nigel Hughes on a pro bono basis to legally fight her cause.
According to Caseley, “we have served them through the court with our statement of claims and are awaiting a response from their attorney.”
Hughes had told this publication that “the deceased estate will be claiming exemplary damages for negligence to the tune of $40 million.”
Mars was admitted to the GPHC on December 4 last year to have his tongue sutured for a minor

The Jaden Mars T-Shirt to be worn during the vigil

injury which he sustained when he fell at home and hit his mouth on a five-gallon bucket.
The child was initially taken to the East Ruimveldt Health Centre for medical attention but was transferred to the GPHC where, as part of attempts to treat him, he was administered at least 50 milligrams of Ketamine intended to sedate him so that his tongue could be sutured. However, since the anaesthetic medicine was not effective in putting the child to sleep he was referred to the theatre to allow for controlled sedation.
The process should have taken about 15 minutes but it was not until one hour later that medical personnel emerged from the theatre to inform Caseley that her son’s heart had “crashed”.
He remained in an unconscious state until December 10, when he died, in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Caseley has contended that “by no means, at all, my son should have ended up dead for the minor injury he sustained…I feel as though I’m now being pushed around and taken for granted in my quest for justice and closure.”
And even as the one-year anniversary nears for her son’s demise, Caseley has plans for a massive vigil set for the GPHC’s Accident and Emergency entrance.
“I am expected to have a large turnout at the vigil as it marks one year since the doctors at the GPHC pronounced my sweet Jaden dead,” said the still grieving mother who disclosed that, “I’m also using this opportunity to call out all the victims of GPHC to come out in support of my fight for justice. When I say victims of GPHC, I mean all those who have been affected the way I have been; everyone who lost someone because of their (GPHC’s) negligence,” Caseley emphasised.
According to her, while she recognises that her fight can in no way resurrect her first born son, her sustained efforts are geared at not only representing “persons who have been left with permanent scars because of the negligence of medical practitioners,” but in order to help prevent such situations from becoming a regular trend.
“I am asking persons wishing to support the vigil to take a white t-shirt along with $1,200 to the Trophy Stall at Bourda Market in order to imprint the inscription “Justice for Jaden Mars” which will serve as the attire of those supporting the vigil,” Caseley said.
It is expected that the vigil will be supported by Mothers in Black, Red Thread and other concerned individuals.