INVESTIGATIONS into the death of 18-year -old Karen Badal, who died last December following a botched abortion, has commenced, and is being vigourously pursued. The Health Ministry has confirmed that works are being conducted in accordance with the Medical Practitioner’s Act to ensure that justice is served. This is according to the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, Dr.Shamdeo Persaud, during an interview with this newspaper yesterday.
Dr. Persaud indicated that since the initial reports were made, a formal complaint was launched at the Ministry of Health.
The practitioner concerned has since received a letter from the legal authorities informing him that the investigation is ongoing, that a written response is needed with regard to the complaint that was launched.
When the response is received, the disciplinary committee will meet.
And the ministry is also keeping in touch with the teenager’s relatives.
The investigation was launched following the death of Badal, mother of two, who succumbed after an unauthorised physician encountered some challenges during the illegal termination of her pregnancy.
Health Minister, Bheri Ramsaran, during an interview with this publication, assured that every effort will be made to clarify the issue. However he said that it will take some time, since the investigation process has to be conducted under a legal act.
Badal died at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, despite undergoing surgery there to repair a perforated uterus and damaged bowels.
It is reported that the late mother of two was subjected to what appears to be a botched abortion conducted at a doctor’s private clinic on the East Coast of Demerara.
It was reported that the physician who performed the abortion on Badal holds a prominent post at a private hospital, besides running his East Coast clinic.
The young mother was four months pregnant and she was continuously asking to have an abortion, since she already had two children, a two-year-old and a four-month-old.
The teenagers’ family said that she was complaining of abdominal pains, and bearing in mind the abortion she had had, she was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on December 24, where she was immediately admitted.
Doctors at the hospital observed that the patient’s abdomen was still swollen, and she had a fever and was vomiting. She underwent an ultrasound and it was observed that there was fluid in her stomach.
Medical staff then observed that the teen’s uterus and bowels were perforated, and had her undergo surgery.
But by then fluids from her bowels had already leaked into her stomach and peritonitis had developed. The teen’s condition worsened and she was taken to the Intensive Care Unit and placed on a ventilator.
Doctors said that everything was done to save Badal’s life, but her situation was a hopeless one.