11 October 2007
Dubai: Public hospitals in the emirate individually recorded the highest number of medical complaints and proven negligence and mismanagement last year, but the rate remains low compared to the volume of cases handled.
A report released by the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) recorded 38 complaints filed with the Dohms Clinical Governance Office, 12 of which were found to be the fault of the medical institution.
Rashid Hospital had one finding of negligence, one of mismanagement and one of both negligence and mismanagement out of 11 complaints.
Dubai Hospital had three findings of mismanagement, and three of both negligence and mismanagement out of 16 complaints, and Al Wasl had two findings of mismanagement and one of both negligence and mismanagement out of ten complaints. One case filed against Al Badaa Healthcare Centre was not proven.
Collectively, the private sector recorded the largest number of medical complaints with 51 complaints.
Botched procedure
However, individual hospitals received fewer complaints than public hospitals with Welcare Hospital coming in first with five complaints, followed by American Hospital in Dubai with four complaints. NMC Hospital recorded three medical complaints, of which one was Showkat Nazir who died of a botched procedure to remove polyps in his sinus cavity.
According to the report, action taken after proving the hospitals' liability included suspending and terminating the medical licence of the doctors. The patients were either sent abroad for further treatment or given compensation.
By Nina Muslim
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
