More than a month after a complaint was lodged seeking an independent investigation into the death of a 21-year-old woman at Ratnapura General Hospital, the Health Ministry has yet to respond, the Daily Mirror reported on Tuesday.
The woman’s father has asked the Health Minister to order an inquiry into his daughter’s death. She was admitted to Ward 13 of the hospital on July 3 with pneumonia.
The complaint
According to the complaint, the patient’s condition deteriorated despite repeated requests from the family for medical attention. The father alleged that her reports of severe chest pain, bleeding from the mouth, persistent diarrhoea and worsening breathing difficulties were not adequately addressed.
He said her oxygen saturation had fallen to 85% on admission and that, while oxygen was administered, the treating consultant was not promptly informed and no urgent escalation of care followed. The patient later suffered a cardiac arrest in the ward and was moved to the Intensive Care Unit, where she died.
The father has asked for a comprehensive review of the treatment given, covering medical records, nursing notes, observation charts, medication records and investigation results, along with statements from the medical and nursing staff involved.
He said the Judicial Medical Officer gave pneumonia as the provisional cause of death, pending histopathological examination.
Where the matter stands
Hospital Director Dr A. D. H. Jayathilake had earlier confirmed that the complaint was received, and said information was being gathered and the circumstances of the death investigated.
Sources told the Daily Mirror that while discussions have begun at hospital level, the Health Ministry has not responded to the allegations or announced any decision on an independent investigation.
The allegations set out in the complaint have not been tested by any inquiry, and no finding of fault has been made against the hospital or any member of its staff.
Source: Daily Mirror.
