Negligence probe begins

Star: KLANG: Two independent inquiries will investigate separate alleged medical negligence cases at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital here in the past six months.
In one case a young girl died, and the other a pack of cotton and gauze was left inside a woman’s abdomen.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said both cases must be investigated thoroughly to ensure justice and to ascertain the facts.
“In the first case, 11-year-old Nimini Ramanadu was brought to the hospital’s emergency ward on Jan 2with high fever. She was also coughing,” he said during a visit to the hospital here.
“She was given medication and sent home, but died about 9pm the next day. Her family is dissatisfied with the treatment and is pursuing legal action.”.
He added that the other case involved a woman Mariam Harun, 33, who underwent a caesarean section on June 15.
She suffered unbearable pain in her abdomen area for some months.
“A thorough check-up at the Seremban hospital found that an abdominal pack consisting of cotton and gauze had been left inside her during the operation,” Dr Chua said.
The Health Ministry has appointed senior paediatrician Datuk Dr Lim Nyuk Ling from Selayang Hospital to investigate Nimini’s case, and Seremban Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist Datuk Dr J. Ravindran to probe Mariam's case.
“Once the inquiries are completed a detail report will be handed to TAR hospital director Dr Yahya Baba, State Helath director Dr Ang Kim Teng and the Health Ministry,” he said.
Dr Chua said the ministry chose Namini’s case for the independent inquiry following a report from the mortality committee at TAR hospital.
“All government hospitals have a mortality committee to verify the causes of death. We will call for an independent inquiry into cases in which the death seemed suspicious,” he said.