MADINAH, 24 August 2006 — The manager of Safa Al-Madinah hospital has responded to the allegations of the medical mistake that cost Najat Balahmar her life, Al-Madinah Arabic newspaper reported yesterday.
Dr. Adnan Ghulam said that he understands the anger of the family and that he does not put the blame on the family. However, he said he wanted to address the allegations, which put the hospital at the risk of closure.
Dr. Ghulam says that although the incorrect transfusion was initiated, hospital staffers quickly noticed the mistake and stopped the transfusion. He says they commenced with the correct blood type and that the woman’s condition was stable when the correct blood type was transfused.
The doctor claims that the woman’s condition faltered in spite of the correct transfusion and it was then that the family decided to transfer the patient to the Maternity Hospital that was better equipped to deal with the problem.
The hospital manager alleged that the problem was exacerbated by delays by the doctors at Maternity Hospital in stabilizing the patient.
Dr. Ghulam said that the local media was trying to slander the doctor in charge of the maternity ward in spite of having extensive experience and a good reputation. He also said that the lab technician who made the mistake had a current temporary permit issued by the relevant authorities.
He also denied that the hospital had a history of mistakes, and defended his staff. “If a worker at the hospital made a mistake that does not mean that the whole hospital is bad,” said Dr. Ghulam. “Show me workers without mistakes? I want to ask the manger of health affairs if they are dealing with other hospitals the same way they deal with us. A woman died as a result of a medical mistake at a local hospital in Madinah last week. I am shocked that I did not hear any threat against the hospital the same way we heard it against us.”
