Doctor arrested over mother’s death
Dec 28, 2010
A doctor and two nurses at Apac Hospital have been arrested over negligence. They were arrested last week following the death of a pregnant mother who was reportedly left unattended to.
By Bill Oketch and Vien Obote
A doctor and two nurses at Apac Hospital have been arrested over negligence. They were arrested last week following the death of a pregnant mother who was reportedly left unattended to.
Negligence of duty is a criminal offence under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009.
The suspects were granted Police bond but barred from work as investigations into the death continues.
The central northern regional Police public relations officer, Henry Alyanga, indentified the suspects as Dr. Godfrey Kisembo, Dorcus Edwe and Hellen Akullo, both nurses attached to the maternity ward.
He identified the deceased as Betty Olivia Acen, 32, a resident of Ibalikoma cell in Apac sub-county.
Acen, who lived about five kilometers from the hospital and had an antenatal card, left home on a bicycle at mid-day on December 5. She arrived at the hospital at 6:00pm and was admitted.
When labour pains started, the nurses examined her, but relatives said they did not offer any other assistance until she died at 12:00am.
Acen, who already had three children, failed to deliver the fourth one after developing complications, Alyanga said.
Gilbert Ogweng said his wife was not told of any possible complications during her visits to the antenatal clinic.
“Dr. Kisembo, who was supposed to be on duty, allegedly failed to report, though he was informed about the patient,†Alyang said.
“We have gathered enough evidence. We have stopped them temporarily from working to pave way for investigations,†he added.
However, the acting medical superintendent of Apac, Dr. Fanuel Sabiiti, said the officers were still working but were not allowed to talk to the press.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Mathew Emer, said his officers did their best to save Acen’s life.
“It is very unfortunate we lost the mother and the baby too. We got the report from those who were on duty that the patient was attended to promptly,†Emer said.
“Dr. Kisembo told me that he was engaged by another private patient somewhere and by the time they wanted him at the hospital, his phone was off. They could not reach him in time,†Emer explained.
Consolata Akullo, the focal person for maternal and child health, said the death took place when she had gone out to implement some of her activities.
But another source at the hospital said: “The whole system here is rotten. The recruitment body is rotten. They recruit pretenders and that is why we have a lot of problems here.â€
Beatrice Agilo, who witnessed the death of her sister, also said Acen was neglected.
“Labour pains started at 6:00pm. My sister cried for help but the nurses were just listening to radio. They told us that they only help when the baby is already out,†she narrated.
A doctor and two nurses at Apac Hospital have been arrested over negligence. They were arrested last week following the death of a pregnant mother who was reportedly left unattended to.
Negligence of duty is a criminal offence under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009.
The suspects were granted Police bond but barred from work as investigations into the death continues.
The central northern regional Police public relations officer, Henry Alyanga, indentified the suspects as Dr. Godfrey Kisembo, Dorcus Edwe and Hellen Akullo, both nurses attached to the maternity ward.
He identified the deceased as Betty Olivia Acen, 32, a resident of Ibalikoma cell in Apac sub-county.
Acen, who lived about five kilometers from the hospital and had an antenatal card, left home on a bicycle at mid-day on December 5. She arrived at the hospital at 6:00pm and was admitted.
When labour pains started, the nurses examined her, but relatives said they did not offer any other assistance until she died at 12:00am.
Acen, who already had three children, failed to deliver the fourth one after developing complications, Alyanga said.
Gilbert Ogweng said his wife was not told of any possible complications during her visits to the antenatal clinic.
“Dr. Kisembo, who was supposed to be on duty, allegedly failed to report, though he was informed about the patient,†Alyang said.
“We have gathered enough evidence. We have stopped them temporarily from working to pave way for investigations,†he added.
However, the acting medical superintendent of Apac, Dr. Fanuel Sabiiti, said the officers were still working but were not allowed to talk to the press.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Mathew Emer, said his officers did their best to save Acen’s life.
“It is very unfortunate we lost the mother and the baby too. We got the report from those who were on duty that the patient was attended to promptly,†Emer said.
“Dr. Kisembo told me that he was engaged by another private patient somewhere and by the time they wanted him at the hospital, his phone was off. They could not reach him in time,†Emer explained.
Consolata Akullo, the focal person for maternal and child health, said the death took place when she had gone out to implement some of her activities.
But another source at the hospital said: “The whole system here is rotten. The recruitment body is rotten. They recruit pretenders and that is why we have a lot of problems here.â€
Beatrice Agilo, who witnessed the death of her sister, also said Acen was neglected.
“Labour pains started at 6:00pm. My sister cried for help but the nurses were just listening to radio. They told us that they only help when the baby is already out,†she narrated.