Health ministry denies medical negligence allegations
The health ministry on Friday said media reports about the death of a patient who sought medical attention at Katutura Health Centre in Windhoek on 6 May contained inaccuracies.
Following the incident, many media outlets and sources reported that the adult male had died while waiting for medical attention, a claim the ministry has refuted.
According to the ministry's statement, an enrolled nurse conducted a prompt assessment of vital signs upon arrival and determined that the man was unresponsive and showed no signs of life.
The healthcare workers at the facility assert that, based on the chronology of events and their observations, there is no evidence to support the claim that he passed away while waiting to receive treatment.
Sequence of events
This comes after learning from the man who brought the patient that they had first visited Hakahana Clinic around 17:00 before being redirected to the health centre, as the clinic was closed.
An off-duty nurse, waiting for transport outside Hakahana Clinic, assisted and determined that the patient's pulse was low. She advised the driver to proceed to other clinics that operate 24 hours a day.
Approximately fifty minutes later, the patient arrived at the health centre, where an enrolled nurse, a senior nurse and a doctor attended to his case. Upon examination, they determined that the man showed no signs of life – a death on arrival.
Additionally, it was discovered that the driver attempted to wake the patient by pouring water on him after he had fainted.
Clarification
They further stated that the doctor instructed the body to be moved for standard documentation and subsequent transportation to the mortuary. At some point, a heated argument and exchange of words erupted between the medical staff and a police officer, who insisted that the body should be removed by police officers as it was now considered a police case.
The patient's body was only taken in after two hours for examination.
‘Allow us to do our work’
The ministry urged members of the public to allow them to perform their duties without interference. They further urged the media and journalists to refrain from spreading unverified information, particularly regarding sensitive matters such as this.
The ministry will conduct a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased.
Following the incident, many media outlets and sources reported that the adult male had died while waiting for medical attention, a claim the ministry has refuted.
According to the ministry's statement, an enrolled nurse conducted a prompt assessment of vital signs upon arrival and determined that the man was unresponsive and showed no signs of life.
The healthcare workers at the facility assert that, based on the chronology of events and their observations, there is no evidence to support the claim that he passed away while waiting to receive treatment.
Sequence of events
This comes after learning from the man who brought the patient that they had first visited Hakahana Clinic around 17:00 before being redirected to the health centre, as the clinic was closed.
An off-duty nurse, waiting for transport outside Hakahana Clinic, assisted and determined that the patient's pulse was low. She advised the driver to proceed to other clinics that operate 24 hours a day.
Approximately fifty minutes later, the patient arrived at the health centre, where an enrolled nurse, a senior nurse and a doctor attended to his case. Upon examination, they determined that the man showed no signs of life – a death on arrival.
Additionally, it was discovered that the driver attempted to wake the patient by pouring water on him after he had fainted.
Clarification
They further stated that the doctor instructed the body to be moved for standard documentation and subsequent transportation to the mortuary. At some point, a heated argument and exchange of words erupted between the medical staff and a police officer, who insisted that the body should be removed by police officers as it was now considered a police case.
The patient's body was only taken in after two hours for examination.
‘Allow us to do our work’
The ministry urged members of the public to allow them to perform their duties without interference. They further urged the media and journalists to refrain from spreading unverified information, particularly regarding sensitive matters such as this.
The ministry will conduct a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased.
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