|
Second report on bizarre MOI surgeries submitted
2007-12-12 09:52:35
By Felister Peter
Health and Social Welfare minister David Mwakyusa has promised to ``discipline straight away`` all those found to have flouted administrative procedures, occasioning two horrendous surgeries at the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) last month.
He made the promise in Dar es Salaam yesterday soon after receiving the report of the committee he formed to make a detailed study of the circumstances that led to the debacle.
Prof Mwakyusa had all but rejected the report of an earlier MOI-constituted committee on the grounds that it did not address some important issues.
The tragic mix-up involved patients Emmanuel Mgaya, who was subjected to a leg operation when what he needed was head surgery, and Emmanuel Didas, who underwent head surgery instead of a leg operation.
The second report was handed over at the ministry`s headquarters in the city by the chairman of the probe team, Prof William Mahalu, a neurosurgeon from Bugando Hospital in Mwanza.
The minister said he would work on the report ``as soon as possible`` and make the Government`s position on the matter public with minimum delay, adding that the stand would depend on the nature of the circumstances that led to the twin problems.
He stated that if the committee said it was an ethical or professional blunder on the part of the medical personnel involved, the Government would go by the ruling of the ethical committee of the national medical association.
However, he added that he would announce the Government`s decision himself straight away if the committee said the mistake originated from MOI`s administration department.
Prof Mwakyusa explained that Emmanuel Didas, who was taken to India for more treatment a few days ago after undergoing the wrong (head) operation, was doing fine.
``Emmanuel`s condition is improving now. His health is a bit stable. He is now undergoing speech therapy,`` he said.
He said the report was to have been handed over to him on December 2, 2007 but the submission was delayed because of unavoidable circumstances, ``including the fact that I was away on other national duties for a couple of days``.
Didas (22), a motorcycle mechanic from Ilala in Dar es Salaam was admitted at Sewa Haji Ward number 17 suffering from a swollen knee sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was to be operated on to remove a blood clot.
But on November 1, 2007 doctors at MOI swapped him with another patient, secondary school student Emmanuel Mgaya from Iringa, and had them undergo surgery for ailments they were not suffering from.
Didas took the head knife meant for Emmanuel Mgaya, himself undergoing an irrelevant knee operation.
Mgaya died shortly after undergoing a later head operation, apparently having developed complications.
He remained in the MOI intensive care unit from the time he was operated on until he died.
He was buried at his home village Ludewa.
Mgaya was referred to Muhimbili National Hospital from Kibena Hospital in Njombe after developing a nagging headache and doctors recommended that he undergo a head operation.
In mid-November Prof Mwakyusa dismissed the report of the first committee as inadequate, instead picking a new team while insisting that the idea was to ensure fair and comprehensive investigations.
The Prof Mahalu committee did not involve anyone from MOI.
|
