Jazan’s Health Department is investigating a complaint filed by a Saudi citizen against a number of doctors and technicians in Al-Dayer- Bani Malik General Hospital.

In his complaint, the man accused the hospital’s medical staff of causing the death of his 4-year-old son as a result of medical malpractice. The Jazan Health Department has deferred travel arrangements of the staff until after the completion of the investigations, local media reported recently.

Mohammad Jaber Al-Suaidi said he took his son Audai to Al-Dayer hospital on the 9th of Shaban, because he was suffering from a minor infection. But a doctor there wrongly diagnosed the child and gave him an injection that made his health condition deteriorate fast and Audai died soon afterward, the father said.

Al-Suaidi claimed he filed a complaint with the director of the hospital and pleaded for investigations to find out the reasons for the boy’s death. According to the father, the hospital responded by saying they sent samples to Riyadh for more analysis. “Since that date until this very moment they say they are still waiting for the results,” added the father.

Al-Suaidi demanded the authorities intervene and form a committee to investigate if there had been any medical neglect. A doctor at the hospital, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the boy was subjected to X-rays and the results found he was suffering from an infection or chest inflammation. According to the anonymous source, a pediatrician at the hospital decided it was an asthma case, and treated the child with antibiotics. But Audai’s father stressed that neither he nor his wife told the pediatrician at the time that the boy suffered from asthma in the past, or that he was given oxygen or asthma treatments before.