MANAMA, 9 August 2004 — After being overpowered by pain and a strong stench a Bahraini mother, who had given birth to a baby girl on July 28 at Salmanyia Medical Complex, was in for a shock when she discovered last week that her surgeon had forgotten to remove two cotton pieces following surgery.
The woman — who is only identified as Shaikha — sought medical help from a private hospital following her release after her pleas for relief from her stomach pain were only met with advice from nurses at SMC to soak in a tub with salted water to help her wound heal.
Ten days later Shaikha — a mother of two girls — could no longer take the strong foul smell, pain and itching so she sought medical care only to be shocked along with her doctor when they discovered that her former doctor during delivery forgot to remove two cotton pieces.
Shaikha’s dilemma did not end there.
When she reported the medical mistake to an on-duty doctor at SMC she was in for another shock when she was told to be “grateful” because this was a only a “simple” mistake and that it was only cotton and not something else.
The on-duty doctor also added that more critical mistakes had occurred in the past.
A spokeswoman for SMC told Shaikha when she complained to the patients’ complaint office that the case was being reviewed and that action would be taken if the doctors were found in violation of procedures.
