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HERALD WEEKLY ISSUE 436 : 03 December 2008

Doubts over Doctors diagnosis raised!

Once again, the quality of advice and service delivery by medical staff at the Rarotonga Hospital has come under scrutiny following concerns raised by family members of a patient recently discharged from hospital.
This latest incident involves an elderly woman admitted on Monday morning with signs of pneumonia. As one would expect, the usual procedure of blood tests and x-rays were undertaken and after 4 days receiving medical care and attention, the woman was discharged on Friday afternoon following physical signs of improvement.
Unfortunately, the woman’s situation deteriorated on Sunday afternoon following a relapse and concerns as to her medical condition resulting in erratic breathing patterns and potential vomiting. Instead of rushing her to hospital which was on the other side of the island, the woman was taken by family members to a local private doctor who was in close proximity because of concerns as to her immediate condition.
The prognosis from this doctor confirmed that the woman had another type of pneumonia strain which may not have been picked up initially by the doctors at the hospital. The consulting doctor was also of the view, that the earlier treatment prescribed by the hospital was for the other type of pneumonia and may not necessarily have treated the strain which was now evident. The woman was immediately given antibiotics for this pneumonia strain and after 2 injections, she has shown positive signs of recovery and improvements to her breathing patterns.
One may question what’s the big deal with that and why is an issue being made out of this situation. Well simply put, the issue is whether or not patient care and diagnosis is being compromised or properly administered by our medical professionals in an environment fraught with controversy and scandal. Once again, another example of a lack of confidence in a system that is and should be responsible for protecting the rights and care of patients has come under criticism and the real issue is, who is responsible for this type of potential negligence assuming that is the case here!
What would have happened if the woman had died as a consequence of misdiagnosis and who would have been held accountable for such action? It is no secret that a number of our people do not have any confidence in our health system because of continuing problems associated with patient care and poor management systems. Naturally there is sympathy to our health professionals given the tight resource constraints and current restructuring but that should not be an excuse for compromising standards and professional conduct.
In the past, a number of suspected deaths at the hospital have not been fully explained by Health officials and there appears to be a “code of silence” to protect the interests of the medical profession rather than the interest of the patients. After all, there does not appear to be an independent authority in existence to which people can refer complaints to of this nature. The Medical Council usually is the first point of contact where complaints of this nature are made however, the scope of the Council is quite restrictive and there are few examples or evidence of disciplinary action being taken by this Council on its own members.
Regarding this incident, the family were at a loss as to explain the actions of the initial doctors and were it not for the intervention of the second doctor, one wonders what the consequences might have been for the patient and her family had the ultimate sufficed. When questioned, family members were dumbfounded that it took 6 days and another doctors assessment to confirm another type of pneumonia was the cause of illness and was still prevalent when she was discharged.
Where does this leave our people in terms of faith and confidence in the very people who are supposed to look after us claimed one member. After this incident, I don’t think I will refer any more of my family to that hospital. It’s no wonder there is so much criticism directed at our health services if this type of behaviour is anything to go by.
When asked why they did not refer the matter to health officials, a family member claimed “ what purpose will that serve. The system is riddled with incompetence and I no longer have any faith in these doctors.” We are sympathetic to the nursing staff and to some of the doctors who we know are working hard under difficult circumstances but at the end of the day, patient care should be their priority and those in positions of authority should buck their ideas up or get out of the management of the hospital system and leave it to those who know how to do the job.
What will it take to make those in authority understand that its people’s lives they are dealing with and the mistakes of human error can potentially become a criminal offence if proven. So far, that has not been the case and nor do we wish to see that happen but enough’s enough and it’s time to pull finger and do something about it before it’s too late.
It is understood, the woman is now on the way to full recovery thanks to a secondary medical opinion sought by the family. A note of caution, if unsure, seek a secondary opinion or in fact, demand it. It may save you heartache and suffering later because of simple human error!

Herald Issue 436 03 December
- Tupa back as Acting Director
- Government may back Taio Shipping bid for vessel
- Adaptation: major focus for Cooks in Poznan
- Doubts over Doctors diagnosis raised!
- Chamber concerned at Government intervention