Dr Dukhi denies any wrongdoing in death of brain tumour patient

– accuses family of abusive behaviour at private facility

The Head of the Neurosurgery Department at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Amarnauth Dukhi, has staunchly denied any wrongdoing in the death of DeAndra Liverpool, a 31-year-old patient who succumbed to a cerebral cyst on June 10 while under his care.
Liverpool’s family, dissatisfied with her care and diagnosis, has levelled accusations of negligence against Dr Dukhi and the hospital staff. Following an autopsy revealing the actual cause of death, concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of her initial diagnosis and subsequent medical treatment.
In a detailed press conference, Dr Dukhi recounted Liverpool’s medical history with him, which began on April 24, 2024, at a private hospital. He stated that Liverpool had arrived with her mother and another relative, and was advised to undergo an MRI and additional tests. However, she returned on May 15 without completing all necessary tests. This delay, coupled with a conflict at the private hospital, led her family to transfer her care to GPHC by May 20.

“They became abusive and hostile to the staff at the private institution. They even visited the medical director with the same hostility… the MRI was reviewed even though they had it since the 24th of May. All the other tests were not done. I explained to them the need and reasons for these tests, because when I looked, I was guided that it was a brain mass,” the doctor recounted.
He further explained that a second MRI was ordered at GPHC, as per standard neurological procedure when a brain mass is suspected. Liverpool received instructions for medication and additional tests, which were critical before any surgical intervention.
“When the patient came on the 20th of May, she was seen by an entire team… we used the GPHC form and we reordered all the tests… the patient left the clinic and was very stable and with no complications. We never saw this patient again until the 10th of June,” he said.
By June 10, Liverpool’s condition had deteriorated, and she was suffering from severe headaches. Her mother admitted to Dr Dukhi that she had not administered the prescribed medication due to difficulties in obtaining it. He then arranged for Liverpool’s emergency admission, but she tragically experienced a seizure and passed away shortly after.
“She was experiencing severe headaches; I asked the mother of the patient whether she was taking the medication and her mother said to me, ‘I didn’t give her this medication, because I could not find it.’ We did some research and found that was the medication that treats swelling in the brain.”
However, Liverpool’s mother had presented a contrasting narrative. In a video posted on social media on June 13, London claimed that her daughter was not informed about the tests during her visit to GPHC, despite prior consultations with Dr Dukhi at another medical facility.
She also asserted that all prescribed medications were administered to her daughter as directed.
In this light, Dr Dukhi emphasised that the hospital conducted a thorough investigation into the case, reviewing all hospital records related to Liverpool’s treatment.
“We conducted a thorough investigation of the hospital records. That is what is legally binding and that is what describes our encounters with every patient that we face daily,” he asserted.
He urged the public to avoid making hasty judgments, emphasising the intricate nature of neurosurgical procedures and the importance of a comprehensive understanding before making conclusions. Dr Dukhi addressed the variance between his initial diagnosis and the autopsy results, explaining that the cerebral cyst identified posthumously was connected to the originally suspected brain mass.
Robbie Rambarran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, responded to the criticisms by pointing out that Liverpool had received treatment at two other hospitals before her care at GPHC. He mentioned that a family member had contacted him to arrange her transfer to GPHC and had later sought a referral letter for treatment abroad, which the hospital was unable to provide.
Rambarran appealed to the public to recognise the many successful outcomes achieved by GPHC, rather than focusing solely on negative cases, underscoring the hospital’s dedication to delivering the highest standard of care under difficult conditions.