Hospital fights negligence claims in patient’s death

Patients wait to be served at a hospital. Home Nursing in Kericho County is fighting claims of negligence after the death of a patient who underwent a surgery at the facility. PHOTO| FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Family and friends of Ms Audrey Chesang’, 26, have accused Nursing Home of rushing to operate on the patient.

  • The first operation was done on March 30, the second eight days later, and the third on April 18. She died on April 27.

  • Kericho Health executive Shadrack Mutai said they have begun investigations into the matter.

A private hospital in Kericho County is fighting claims of negligence after a patient died in what relatives claim was a result of unnecessary surgery. 

Family and friends of Ms Audrey Chesang’, 26, have accused Nursing Home of rushing to operate on the patient, who had only walked in for check-up, without giving room for thorough examination.

The first operation was done on March 30, the second eight days later, and the third on April 18. She died on April 27.

Her death has since ignited rage on social media with more people coming out with claims of negligence at the facility.

The deceased’s mother, Ms Rose Koskei, said the daughter called her from work saying she suddenly felt some stomach pains and that she had been admitted to the hospital.

INJECTED

“I rushed there to find her having been injected with pain killers. An ultrasound was done and doctors said they had found a cyst. She was taken for an operation that evening,” said the mother.

Eight days later as she resumed eating solid food, her stomach began to swell, prompting her to be taken through an emergency surgery for the second time.

The third operation was prompted by stool that leaked out of her wound; an indication that the intestines could have been tampered with.

“On the third operation, the hospital sought the opinion of another doctor who said my daughter had developed a serious infection and needed to be urgently saved. Since there was no alternative, we urged her to go back to the theatre,” Ms Koskei  explained.

Her condition began to deteriorate and, on April 20, she was rushed to St Lukes Hospital in Eldoret where she died while at the Intensive Care Unit on April 27.

JUSTICE

“My child is gone. I am praying to God to help us find justice,” she told the Nation at her Chepkolon home in Kericho County.

Reached for comment, the hospital’s administrator, Bernard Kiprotich, said the county government had taken up the issue.

“Much as we may want to respond, medical ethics do not allow us to divulge patients’ information. For that matter, we suggest that you talk to the department of health in the county government, since they have already taken the details from us,” said Mr Kiprotich.

Kericho Health executive Shadrack Mutai said they have begun investigations into the matter.

MEDICAL FILE

“A team drawn from my department and County Assembly Health Committee have met and studied the medical file of the patient. The team will visit the facility on a fact-finding mission,” Dr Mutai told the Nation.

Members of County Assembly led by Mr Paul Chirchir of Kapsoit and his Kipchebor counterpart Eric Bett said they will table a motion calling for a probe into the circumstances surrounding Ms Chesang’s death.

Ms Chesang’ was a Supplies and Procurement graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.