JEDDAH: The committee investigating the case of a man who was in a coma for two months following a medical mistake has postponed its verdict to March 25, 2009. The committee was scheduled to issue the verdict on Monday but postponed it to give more time to the patient to recover and for the case to be reinvestigated. A new committee will be set up to reinvestigate the case. A source told Arab News the case would go through regular procedures as happens in any case of medical malpractice.
Wafa Al-Harithy, sister of Hassan Al-Harithy, the victim, expressed her disappointment over the delay and said the move would not weaken the case. She said she was disappointed as the doctor who performed the operation on her brother did not show up at the hearing. Various members of Hassan’s family attended the hearing, including his wife.
“What is the point of having another committee when it has been proven that the case is one of medical malpractice?” Wafa asked. “Will it make any difference if he gets better? The verdict must be fair regardless of whether his condition improves or not.”
The case went to court after investigations showed it was a case of medical negligence. Hassan, 47, a father of five, went into a coma after undergoing surgery on an ankle he twisted while playing football. Despite telling a doctor that he had high blood pressure and a blockage in an artery, he was assured that the surgery was too minor to affect him. Although Hassan has now come out of coma, he cannot speak and is fed through a tube.
In order to raise awareness about her brother’s situation, Wafa launched a media campaign that prompted the authorities to examine the case and come to the conclusion that Hassan had been a victim of medical malpractice.
