Latest update October 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 14, 2017 Letters
Dear Editor,
Just like to share my worried and sadden opinion since my niece who was only 6 months old recently passed away at GPHC. I am also a qualified and trained first aider and nurse aid. My niece was rushed to GPHC on Saturday 16th Sept, 2017 since she was hyperventilating (panicking for breath). The infant’s parents waited for an update on the child’s condition in which they were informed that the infant is critical and they weren’t locating any veins on the child.
When they did find a vein it was located on the child’s head. They then notified the parents that they will admit the child and that she is critical, but stable, so they admitted her in ICU. When the parents returned on Sunday 17th Sept, the RN informed the parents that they did a blood and urine test along with an ultra sound. The ultra sound showed the child’s kidney wasn’t functioning properly. They then said that the infant have a bacterial infection but that they found no trace of any bacterial infection in the urine or blood. (I questioned the RN at that time since the doctors wasn’t there as to how can you determine the infant has an infection since you found nothing)
On Monday 18th Sept., the parents returned to visit the child. They spoke with the doctor and the doctor told them that they still don’t know what is wrong with the child and that they are still not locating any veins on the child body except on her head, but the infant is doing well and responding to treatments. Later that day myself along with the parents and other relatives went to visit the child. Her face and hands were swollen. I queried it with the doctor who was working ICU at that time, she told me that it was due to the medications which were the antibiotics and the fluids the child was receiving. She also mentioned that they send her blood and urine to the lab to be tested again and it will take a couple days.
On Tuesday the 19th when we returned, the child had swollen a bit more than the day before. During that visit the doctor told the parents that they would like to do a minor surgical procedure (an incision) on the child in order to locate a vein on her so she can get the adequate fluids and treatment and hopefully find the true cause of what is happening to the child.
On Wednesday 20th Sept., we returned to see if all went well but was told that they are waiting on the blood bank and the lab for the test results. The doctor in ICU at that time whom I believed was aware of the child’s condition since she didn’t know who the child was, instead gave me another infant’s data. The RN next to her tapped her and told her which child I was asking about and gave her my niece file, then she said, “sorry there are so many babies that she got mixed up.”
The doctor then gave me the update that the child have sepsis and that the patient don’t have enough platelets in her body to do the surgery and that was the reason for them not doing the surgery and they are waiting on the lab to send up the platelets. I asked how long will it take for them to get it; she said she is not sure and it may take days. I then said to her, but this is an emergency. It is not the doctors’ fault; it is the lab since they have been calling and not getting onto them.
We left the hospital and returned the following day (Thursday 21st Sept.). We were told by the nurse that the baby wasn’t breathing properly. The child was continuously swelling. I kept telling her the child is not supposed to be swelling like this, and I asked her what medication they are giving. They never answer.
ALSO THE OTHER CHILD’S INFORMATION THE DOCTOR HAD GIVEN ME WHEN SHE MIXED UP THE PATIENTS, THE CHILD HAD BEEN DISCHARGED AFTER THEY TOLD THE PARENTS THAT THE BABY WAS OKAY.THE NIGHT OF THE SAME DAY THE BABY GOT DISCHARGED, THE BABY DIED.
ON FRIDAY 22ND SEPT., we visited the patient in the afternoon, the child had swollen so huge is as though she would have popped if you pricked her with a needle. I immediately ask the doctor (the same doctor who mixed up the babies patients.) about the swelling, she then mention to me that it is because the child has a kidney failure The next day early as 2am the hospital called to inform the parents the baby died.
Saddened Aunt
October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!
Oct 19, 2024
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