Doctors' suspension defended in Bahrain
Manama, June 1, 2014
Bahrain's Health Ministry has defended its decision to suspend three Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) doctors following the death of a 12-year-old boy on the operating table.
"Civil Service Bureau regulations stipulate such precautionary measures as the suspended practitioners are government employees," it said.
The statement was in response to the Bahrain Medical Society (BMS), which opposed the move, saying the decision to suspend the three doctors was hasty, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
Sayed Sajad Murtada, from Sitra, was undergoing surgery at Bahrain's largest hospital when he died due to complications on Monday. The ministry said that it did not take the decision either for personal motives or to appease public opinion.
"The three doctors have been suspended as a legal precaution to ensure the transparency and probity of the investigation," it said, pointing out that its ultimate aim is to protect public interests and enforce the law, beyond any defamation of doctors or any medical staff.
It reiterated its resolve to preserve the rights of doctors, medical staff and patients, saying that it scrutinises its decisions thoroughly in line with rules and regulations.
Investigations
BMS chairman Dr Mohammed Rafea expressed satisfaction at the progress of investigations into the doctors' suspension.
"Investigation procedures are objective and highly professional and there are indications that results will be fair and serve everyone's interest," he said.
He thanked National Health Regulatory Authority chief executive Dr Baha Eldin Fateha on behalf of BMS for accepting the society's request to be part of investigation committees.
Sources had said earlier that the child was said to be undergoing a routine hernia repair operation when complications occurred during intubation and a tracheotomy had to be done.
However, it is not clear how that led to his death.
His father Murtada Mohammed Jawad said his son had been in the SMC for a hernia condition affecting his left lung for a month.
He said doctors had informed him that his son needed surgery immediately.
"They took him for surgery and after an hour I was told that he was no more," Jawad told the GDN. Sayed, a student at Sitra Primary School, was buried at Sitra cemetery. - TradeArabia News Service
