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Public hospitals should not be the places where poor people go to die

Nov 03, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – The recent story of the tragic death of 24-year-old Devi Samaroo and her newborn at the New Amsterdam Hospital in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) warrants an intense and urgent investigation. As if the two deaths were not bad enough, the stories coming from the family of the shoddiest treatment, the hospital staff’s refusal to give information on the whereabouts of mother and her baby, refusal to disclose the names of the doctors/nurses, poor treatment of the mother’s dead body – that was not the shining moment for the New Amsterdam Hospital, where several mothers and babies have died over the years. It’s an indictment of our primitive public health systems. Recently, The Minister of Health has been talking about “smart” hospitals. It does not appear that Port Mourant Hospital where Ms. Samaroo first visited is “smart,” nor it does not seem that the New Amsterdam Hospital is “smart.” But we cannot allow these “dumb” hospitals to kill our people, and there is no accountability.
In the old days, mothers gave birth at home and the people did not die the way New Amsterdam Hospital has a high mortality rate. So why are we going to a hospital that has medical personnel and facilities and you don’t come out alive? It did not appear that the pregnancy was difficult or problematic so when your loved one dies, it is unexpected, shocking, and traumatic. The ministry must investigate and deal with the family’s claims of negligence and cover-up. This family must get justice, as well as the others that lost loved ones.
Autopsies later said that the baby girl died as a result of a hole in her heart and the mother died from shock and blood clot in the lungs. So if the baby has a hole in the heart, was that not detected during the pre-natal visits? If the mother died from shock and blood clot in the lungs, when did that happen? Was that detected when she went to the Port Mourant Hospital? Who were the attending doctor(s) and nurses? The way the parents were kept in the dark and were denied information, the family’s claim they were not allowed to be present at the autopsy, all seem suspicious. Why? Is it not a usual practice to have a family member present? Was that an attempt at a cover up?
The Ministry must develop a “Patients/Family Bill of Rights” going forward. Hospitals and their personnel must be held accountable for unprofessional behaviour, medical negligence and malfeasance, neglect of duty, etc. Public hospitals must care about their customer service and their image. The public must not think that public hospitals are inefficient, incompetent and associated with mediocrity in service, including “hoggish” staff. These public institutions cannot afford to fail because the masses who cannot afford private services depend on them.
Social media is abuzz with criticisms of our health services. Sewachan Deonarine said, “If you want dead the hospital to go is New Amsterdam hospital…the family should get another autopsy.” Eusi Mclean said, “Is about time people start taking legal action against these hospital,” and Ramona N. Samuel Deo said, “They need to be sued, too many young mothers are dying, it’s their negligence.” Chandani Chanand said, “When you are poor there is no justice. Leave it in the hands of God and wait for karma to do its thing. There is no one or organisation that looks into situations like this. What we tend to hear are numerous excuses and cover up for the wrong that’s being/was done. Babies and mothers are dying, family blaming hospitals for negligence and yet no investigation is carried out.” Grace Persaud said, “Such sad Healthcare situation in Guyana! Those who can afford would go to the Private Hospitals while the Poor are at the Mercy of the Incompetent and Inconsiderate Staff at the Public Hospitals!! No ultra sound was done! The Patient or Family Were Not Updated of the various developments and were eventually barred from The Post Mortem!! Something doesn’t Add Up Here!! People Respect Your Health and Others too. R.I.P. Angel and Mother!”
What happened to Devi Samaroo and her baby is simply unacceptable! The family wants justice!

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall

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