Relatives blame GPHC for death of girl, three-year-old

Mar 04, 2015 News

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…despite PM revealing brain abscess as cause
Although post mortem results revealed that three-year-old Akeela Brianna Benons died from

a cerebral abscess (abscess in the brain), the child’s aunt is blaming medical practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for her demise.
The child, who resided with her aunt, Anica Tyson, at 567 Conciliation Street, Tucville, Georgetown, was on Republic Day (February 23) rushed to the GPHC at around 10:00am after she had been having a high fever for a couple hours.
Tyson said that upon arriving at the hospital the doctor instructed another relative to “bathe the child from head to toe”.
The woman then went on to say that soon after the child received the bath, she (Akeela) began to have a seizure. This was when another instruction was given (by a doctor whose identify is yet to be confirmed), to administer a syringe of Valium (diazepam) to the child.
Tyson recounted that approximately 10 minutes after bathing the child, “the baby turn to me and she seh “aunty hug up”, and when I put my arms around her to hug her up, I feel like if her whole right side stiff–stiff”.
This was when the concerned woman alerted medical practitioners, and the nurses were instructed to “give the child another Valium”.
In what could only be a bizarre sequence of events, Tyson claims that an “old white doctor” came into the room, and upon realising what had happened, started to scold the medical practitioners that were treating the child.
“I don’t know what this doctor name, but he come in and ask dem how they gon give this child valium like that. He tell dem that big big people can’t take it like how they give the child…”
At this point, Tyson explained that the doctor (whose name has been withheld), who was supposed to be in charge of treating the child, was completely speechless. She added that the entire time her niece was being treated; the doctor was busily texting away on her cell phone.
She claims that the “old white doctor” then assured her not to worry, since the only side effect of the administration of too much valium, would be drowsiness. However, Tyson claims that the child then stopped breathing altogether. This was when the doctors decided to carry out a CT (Computerized tomography) scan of young Akeela’s brain.
The child’s family was told that the results of the scan indicated that there was bleeding in her brain. Tyson recalled, “When I was riding back with them in the Ambulance, they (medical practitioners) turn to me and ask if anyone in we family using medication or does get fits. I tell them no, because nobody in we family don’t sick. That was when they tell me that this is a condition that is common in old people.” The child was then admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Tyson stated that the following day (February 24), she returned to GPHC to check on her niece. She said that upon arriving at the hospital, she was informed that Akeela was not doing well.
“I ask the doctor how baby doing and she say baby not doing well. She started asking me questions like if the family are to blame for the baby condition.”
An upset Tyson recalled that the doctor was insinuating that the child’s family was hiding the fact that the child had suffered a fall, or some other injury at their hands. She then explained that family members were informed that “the baby will die, and when the baby dies, we will carry out a post mortem”.
Tyson stated that at no time did the doctor assure her that they would try their best, or do everything within their power to save the child’s life.
A distraught Tyson explained that her niece’s condition started to improve, but then suddenly worsened.
“By the twenty-sixth of February, I see like if water started to come out her mouth. They had a needle in her right hand for two days, and where the needle was located, her hand began to swell. I don’t know if they didn’t put it in a vein or what.”
Akeela Benons died shortly after visiting hours on Thursday, February 26.
The family is claiming that they did not want a post mortem, but the doctor requested one.
“She (doctor) tell me that her hands are tied, and they have to do the PM to find out what kill the baby… Now you mean fuh tell me they treating the baby all this time, and they don’t know the reasons surrounding her death?” Tyson questioned.
When asked why her family refused to approach GPHC’s administration with the matter, Tyson claimed that the same thing happened when her sister died there, and nothing came out of the matter.
GPHC CEO Michael Khan, when questioned about the case, told this newspaper that this is the first he is hearing of the matter. He added that the administration will certainly take it seriously, and necessary investigations will be carried out.

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