The case of nine-year-old Ghadeer Al-Qahtani, who was injured when a stray bullet lodged inside her chest during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday in Taif, still remains unresolved.

The Health Affairs Committee in Taif governorate has yet to complete investigations into the medical error that then occurred with Ghadeer’s case despite the fact that her file has been referred to the Medical Violations Committee in accordance with Article 38 of the Kingdom’s health law.

Siraj Al-Humaidan, official spokesman for the Taif governorate’s health department, explained that Ghadeer was admitted to the emergency department on the morning of Eid Al-Fitr. Her medical record stated that she had been shot and doctors were informed of the incident. An ultrasound was conducted. However, doctors did not find the bullet.

The wound was cleaned and sewn and the attending doctor ordered Ghadeer’s hospitalization. A pediatrician later examined her and failed to detect the presence of a foreign object.

Ghadeer was duly discharged and given an appointment at the outpatient’s clinic. The wound had not healed upon the next hospital visit, which prompted the attending doctor to request an X-ray. It then became apparent that there was a bullet lodged on the other side of the wound.

Al-Humaidan said that the parents’ failure to give correct and accurate information about the child’s case prevented doctors from discovering the bullet.

Ali Al-Qahtani, Ghadeer’s brother, expressed the family’s dismay at the delay in the investigation and threatened to take his sister’s case to court if the Health Affairs Committee remained silent.

Al-Humaidan pointed out that Ghadeer’s case has been referred to the medical committee, which is headed by a prominent judge. He said, however, that the committee is an independent entity and has no connection with the Health Affairs Department.