Most medical negligence cases affect mothers

What you need to know:

  • Doctors attributed this to inadequate personnel, equipment and lack of access to proper healthcare.
  • Dr Omanwa further said Kenyans cannot afford to take their loved ones to proper facilities in time and that once something happens, complaints are lodged.
  • He noted the need to train more specialists to increase the workforce and buy more equipment to boost services.

Mothers in Kenya recorded the highest number of medical negligence cases, data from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) has revealed.

The figures show that out of the 1,055 cases lodged at the board since its inception, 257 cases (25 per cent) were from obstetrics and gynaecology departments.

Doctors attributed this to inadequate personnel, equipment and lack of access to proper healthcare.

“This is a very emotional department. We are dealing with two people, the mother and the unborn child. If something goes wrong with the mother, the chance of the baby surviving are minimal,” said Dr Kireki Omanwa, secretary-general, Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society.

DELAYS

Dr Omanwa further said Kenyans cannot afford to take their loved ones to proper facilities in time and that once something happens, complaints are lodged.

“We have a lot of pre-eclampsia cases (increase in blood pressure) during pregnancy which can be tragic and patients always seek medical assistance when it is too late. Sorting out the complications can be problematic and can lead to death,” he said.

He added: “What we always tell mothers is that before they get to hold their babies, anything can happen.”

According to the data, internal medicines came second in the ranking with 170 cases at (16 per cent), surgeries 147, financial/overcharging at fourth position recording 106 cases (10 per cent)

Paediatric medical negligence came fifth with 91 cases followed by orthopaedics with 90 cases. Failing to give medical reports, sexual harassment, absconding duty and attitude recorded 59 cases. Dental 45 cases.

TRAINING

Dr Omanwa noted the need to train more specialists to increase the workforce and buy more equipment to boost services.

“At times, it is not the doctors’ fault but the system. We need to invest more in our systems. The Universal Health Coverage is a fantastic idea but I think we should start by doing the basics,” he said.

However, despite the agony the cases bring to families, doctors and hospitals involved do not go scot free. They pay for the negligence and doctors are punished by the board if found guilty.

Between May 2018 and February 22, 2019, at least four leading hospitals were directed to pay victims of doctors’ negligence a total of Sh106.6 million.

In May last year, Nairobi Women’s Hospital was ordered to pay Sh54.7 million to a woman whose child ended up suffering from cerebral palsy due to negligence during birth.

The data from KMPDB shows that the licences of six doctors were cancelled while those of nine others were suspended for a period of six to 12 months for misconduct.

“The penalties for professional doctors are within the acceptable ranges, but we would welcome any other proposal that someone feels we should include as a penalty,” said KMPDB Chief Executive Daniel Yumbya.