…as GPHC CEO promises investigation into mistreatment allegations
The family of 41-year-old Jennifer Gill of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), are calling for a full investigation into her death after the woman died following the delivery of a healthy baby boy at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).
According to reports, Gill died in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) shortly after 20:00h on Monday.
Dead: Jennifer Gill
However, the deceased woman’s niece, Tashanna (only name given), said her aunt was scheduled to undergo a C-section due to her age and weight of her baby. She explained that after her aunt’s “water broke” (rupture of membranes) she was admitted to the medical institution at about 07:00h on Saturday.
Her niece explained however, that the C-section was not performed but her baby boy was delivered vaginally on Saturday evening. Tashanna further noted that she was informed that no doctor was available at the time for the C-section therefore it was not performed.
She went on to state that she visited the hospital on Sunday morning as her aunt was scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy operation; however, she noted that the now dead woman was unresponsive and appeared unconscious after leaving the theatre. She said cotton wool had been placed around her eyes and nose which appeared bloodied.
According to the woman’s niece, the now dead woman was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. She said relatives were sent away and were later told that the woman died on Monday evening.
Family members however believe that Gill had already died when they saw her inside the ICU.
An investigation is reportedly underway as the medical institution is yet to make an official report. Meanwhile, an official attached to the medical institution told Guyana Times on Tuesday that obstetricians were in the process of preparing an official report which was expected to be forwarded to the Public Health Minister.
The official noted that until that was done, an official statement could not be made on behalf of the hospital. Another official noted that the institution is also awaiting the results of a post mortem-examination.
Gill is survived by two children.
Investigation
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis, said that the hospital would be investigating the mistreatment claims a 36-year-old woman, who accused the nurses and midwives in the maternity ward of grievously mistreating her before, during and after her delivery on Monday last.
On Saturday last, Jennifer Jagdeo’s baby girl died as a result of complications during the pregnancy and the fact that she was delivered prematurely. The Herstelling, East bank Demerara woman said that she felt degraded by the treatment she received at the GPHC and is seriously considering actions against the Hospital.
“I felt like worst than dog treatment at the Georgetown Hospital,” Jagdeo told this newspaper.
In response to the woman’s allegations, Lewis has promised an investigation. Lewis has since expressed the administration’s condolences to Jagdeo’s family while noting that the administration is aware of instances of staffers mistreating patients and at the same time explaining that mistreatment would not be condoned.
He also urged persons, who were mistreated by staffers to report it to the Complaints Department. Additionally, Lewis said that persons accessing services at the GPHC should also be respectful to the staffers at the institution.
He noted that over the last year the GPHC would have delivered over 7,000 babies and saw almost 18,000 pregnant women adding that persons should also take that into consideration when accessing services at the institution.
Meanwhile, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the GPHC, Dr Lucio Pedro said that he would have spoken to his staff who all denied the accusations.
In a previous interview, Jagdeo said that her doctor had advised that the baby would not survive because of the complications during the pregnancy. The woman said that she had accepted that she would have lost her first child, but it is the treatment that she got from the GPHC that she could not accept.
