– Min. Lawrence promises statement

IT has been reported that the internal probe at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into the deaths of three young children who were receiving treatment for leukaemia has been completed.

This was reported in the Thursday edition of the Stabroek News, which also noted that this information was provided by an undisclosed source who is close to the investigation.

Seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards succumbed on January 14; Roshani Seegobin, three, died on January 18 and Sharezer Mendonca, six, passed away on January 24. The trio succumbed after an alleged adverse reaction to medication which was administered to them as part of the treatment for leukaemia– a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues.

It was indicated that the cause of the three deaths was not due to the medication administered. Earlier information reported by the Guyana Chronicle had indicated that preliminary reports noted that it was not the medication used that was bad, but it was that the medication was administered incorrectly.

The Stabroek News also reported that the findings of the investigation have been sent to the Ministry of Public Health.

On Friday, when the Guyana Chronicle approached Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, she declined to confirm the reports received by that newspaper, and instead highlighted that an official statement would be issued shortly.

In the wake of the first two deaths, the GPHC had confirmed that an investigation was launched. After the death of Mendonca, Minister Lawrence explained that an “all-round” probe was being conducted.

The investigation at the GPHC was being spearheaded by the hospital’s Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey; the investigation team comprised support personnel from PAHO, members from the paediatric department of the hospital and the GPHC’s Deputy CEO, Elizabeth Gonsalves.

Following the death of the third child, Mendonca, a family member told this newspaper that the young girl’s body was given to the wrong family, resulting in an unauthorised autopsy. The family subsequently performed another autopsy, since they had related that they did not trust the GPHC.

Furthermore, the aunt of Mendonca, Azeena Bakraj, indicated that the family–through their lawyers—had requested the young girl’s medical records. On Friday, she shared that those have not yet been provided, even though two requests have been made.

She also indicated that the hospital has not informed her family that the investigations into the children’s deaths have been completed.