– GPHC assures steps taken to improve overall services

By Vishani Ragobeer

THE team of medical doctors who, allegedly, improperly administered the drugs used as part of the chemotherapy for three children, in January 2019, are, reportedly, no longer working with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), according to reliable sources.

Last year, three children who were receiving treatment at the GPHC for leukemia, a form of cancer, lost their lives. 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.

Following the first two deaths, the GPHC launched an investigation which eventually concluded that “human deficiencies and systemic challenges” contributed to the unfortunate loss of the three children. These included the lack of supervision, inadequate staffing- stretched between various departments, and the misadministration of the drugs.

At a press conference on the matter, in March 2019, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle said, “It wasn’t a question of the dosage; the administration – in terms of where it was administered – was done incorrectly. She later added, “One drug [Vincristine] was administered intrathecally [injected to the spine] when it should have been administered intravenously [or injected into the veins].”

During the GPHC’s investigation, it was reported that the medical practitioners directly involved were relieved of their duties. Subsequently, by January 29, they were sent on administrative leave.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that three doctors, including one senior doctor, were sanctioned by the GPHC. The employment contracts the senior doctor and one of the two junior doctors had with the GPHC had not been renewed, while the other junior doctor was terminated.

In addition to being sanctioned by the GPHC, the doctors who were employed through the Health Ministry would also be placed before the medical board. Former Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud confirmed that these sanctions were imposed on the doctors.

“We usually go through the process of disciplinary action through the Medical Council and that is still pending as far as I recall,” Dr. Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle, during a telephone interview.

This newspaper was informed by the Chairman of the Medical Council, Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran, that the matter is undergoing “final review” by the Disciplinary Committee of the Council. This Disciplinary Committee, as explained by the former CMO, is usually chaired by a judge.

Dr. Rambaran, in his email response to the Guyana Chronicle, noted also, “In considering whether the doctors involved in this case posed an immediate danger to the patients and whether it was prudent to temporarily remove them from practice, the Council decided that the same was not the case.”

Another junior doctor involved in the incident and who was working under the supervisor, has assisted with the investigation. Dr. Shamdeo said that he advised that the hospital strengthen its supervision.

IMPROVED SYSTEMS

Dr. Rambaran highlighted that the Council also considered the “systemic factors” that might have contributed to the deaths of the children. He said the Medical Council was “reasonably assured” that the possibility of a similar occurrence in the future was “unlikely” given the GPHC’s immediate steps to improve its health services.

Following the unfortunate events, the GPHC took immediate steps to remedy those “systemic challenges”. GPHC’s Communications Manager, Chelauna Providence, in an invited comment, said, “The department changed supervisors and the Standard Operational Procedures (SOPS) and certain policies were strengthened.”

The Human Resources and Quality Improvement Departments of the hospital have worked to introduce more routine and ad hoc assessments of each department within the hospital and the staff, Providence said. This, she explained, helps to encourage the staff to follow the protocols and procedures instituted by the hospital to prevent any accident — at least on the part of the hospital — from occurring.

The department responsible for quality assurance is headed by retired Nurse, Leslyn Holder. And this department, according to Providence, would usually investigate matters, such as the unfortunate deaths of the children. Thereafter, the findings and recommendations are presented.

The investigation into the deaths of the three children is not yet completed, however. One of the three families, the Guyana Chronicle understands, has taken some legal action against the GPHC. The two other families have received compensation from the GPHC.