Doctor sacked after Today newspaper exposé

A medical doctor at the Amasaman Government Hospital in the Ga West Municipality has been dismissed from the facility following Today’s exposé.

Other disciplinary actions have also been taken against three nurses for dereliction of duty in connection with the deaths of two patients who were taken to the facility for medical care but died after the nurses on duty delayed in attending to them.

This paper in a front page story under the banner; “Nurses Negligence causes deaths at Amasaman Gov’t Hospital” published on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 reported that an accident victim, who was knocked down by a KIA truck at Pokuase and was rushed to the hospital was denied healthcare for over an hour despite bleeding profusely.

According to the report, the nurses refused to attend to the patient with the explanation that there was no doctor available to attend to him.

The patient identified as Awal Osaka died later whilst being transferred to the 37 Military Hospital.

His relatives threatened to sue the hospital for negligence.

Speaking to Today on behalf of management of the hospital, the Medical Superintendent, Doctor Jarvis Abilla, confirmed that disciplinary measures were instituted against the doctor and the nurses on duty for unprofessional conduct leading to the death of patients.

According to him, the doctor has been dismissed whereas the nurses were withdrawn from handling emergency cases.

The three nurses have also been removed from night duty as well as restrained from going on study leave.

Dr. Abilla said the decision to sack the 35-year-old doctor (name withheld) was based on management’s assessment of the case taking into consideration his attitude towards work, his lateness to work and his refusal to attend corporate meetings frequently.

The doctor who has been working at the government hospital for the last three years is said to be a part-time doctor at the facility.

Dr. Abilla explained that on the day of the incident, the said doctor reported for work at 5:00 P.M., instead of the actual reporting time of 2:00 P.M., and left the facility around 7:00 P.M., instead of 8:00 PM.

He averred that in the event of an emergency, a doctor whose closing time is up, cannot just leave the facility, explaining that he or she must wait and take care of the emergency until another doctor comes to relieve him or her.

He said both the doctor and the nurses acted unprofessionally hence the disciplinary action.

The move, he believes, would go a long way to deter others who may want to put patients lives at a peril, jeopardise the image of the profession and that of the hospital.

According to him, the doctor’s dismissal and the sanctions against the nurses took effect on 3rd August, 2015.

Dr. Jarvis Abilla said he would not entertain any indiscipline at the health facility.

The second victim died at the OPD of the hospital after he reported for treatment from an unknown condition.

He reportedly arrived at the facility around 6:30 A.M., on Sunday, July 19, 2015 and for several hours no one attended to him with the excuse that no doctor was present.
He died around 3:45 PM.

Several patients have complained about facing difficulties accessing healthcare, especially during weekends at the facility.

The medical superintendent, however, assured that he was going to address complaints and ensure that the Amasaman Government Hospital regains its good name.