Hospital sued for fatal medical error

Hospital sued for fatal medical error

October 20, 2016
The patient who died after allegedly being given an expired saline solution. — Okaz photo
The patient who died after allegedly being given an expired saline solution. — Okaz photo

[caption id="attachment_92764" align="alignleft" width="225"]The patient who died after allegedly being given an expired saline solution. — Okaz photo The patient who died after allegedly being given an expired saline solution. — Okaz photo[/caption]By Hussain Hazzazi


JEDDAH — A private hospital is being sued for a medical error which resulted in the patient’s death.

Jeddah Health Affairs Directorate spokesman Abdullah Al-Ghamdi said a doctor who works for a public hospital sued a private hospital on Tuesday for the death of her husband.

“The doctor claimed her husband was given an expired saline solution. He was given the saline solution after he underwent surgery a week ago.

“The directorate is looking into the case. If the case is proven, all individuals responsible will be penalized,” said Al-Ghamdi.

The doctor said she filed a complaint with the Health Affairs Directorate.

“My complaint has the number 3775. The hospital gave my husband an expired saline solution three times. His heart rate reached 170 which caused his heart to stop. I have the saline bag with me as proof,” said the doctor, who is suing the hospital for negligence as it conducted surgery on her husband when he had low blood pressure.

[caption id="attachment_92765" align="alignright" width="226"]Expired saline Expired saline[/caption]The brother of the deceased patient said his brother had a road accident and was taken to Al-Thaghr Hospital south of Jeddah. “He was admitted to that hospital for less than two hours before he was transported to a private hospital north of Jeddah.

“The hospital demanded SR50,000 from us even though my brother was covered by insurance,” said the brother.

He added that his brother underwent surgery to heal a fracture in his thigh.

“His health condition was stable for 20 days. He needed a blood transfusion, but his condition became worse once they gave him an expired saline solution. My brother died at the hospital due to the hospital’s negligence,” said the brother.


October 20, 2016
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