Kibuli hospital dragged to medical council over patient's death

Health

The family of a woman who died has petitioned the Medical Council to investigate Kibuli Hospital over negligence.

In 2018, Scovia Mary Alupo died after giving birth. Prior to her delivery, Alupo was admitted at Kibuli Hospital but was referred to Case Hospital where she died.

According to Alupo's husband, Raphael Omony, his wife died due to the professional misconduct of the health workers at Kibuli Hospital.

Through the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Omony has petitioned the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC), to investigate the matter and hold accountable those found to have been at fault.

The human rights body also intends to institute a suit in the courts of law, seeking compensation for the bereaved family.

According to Ruth Ajalo, CEHURD's programme officer, Alupo's condition worsened while at Kibuli Hospital and she was referred to Case Hospital on October 22, 2018 and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where she died.

"Sadly, by the time Alupo was referred to Case Hospital it was too late. She died on October 27, 2018, leaving behind her husband and two children," Ajalo said.

According to a post-mortem done by Dr Male Mutumba, a pathologist at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Alupo died from severe brain death due to overbleeding.

Background

In the petition, the human rights body says on October 20, 2018, at about 12:00pm, Alupo was admitted to Kibuli Hospital, where she underwent a caesarean section after spending close to four hours in the operating theatre.

Documents seen by New Vision indicate that she was taken back to the post-natal ward while unconscious.

She was allegedly left unattended to by the health workers for over five hours.

In the petition Omony says his pleas to the hospital nurses to attend to his unconscious wife were ignored.

Omony states that at about 11:00pm, Alupo was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) when the doctor who was working on the evening shift realised that she was still unconscious.

At that point Omony was informed that his wife was anaemic and was given blood.

At around 6:00am, the doctor told Omony that Alupo had suffered internal bleeding and needed more blood.

Later, Alupo was taken back to the operation theatre and according to Omony, the doctor demanded sh200,000 for more blood, which he paid since the hospital did not have any.

The document alleges that Omony used his phone to send the money to the doctor after which blood was delivered and administered to the deceased.

CEHURD writes to Kibuli hospital

CEHURD wrote to Kibuli Hospital management in a letter dated March 21, 2019, stating that the deceased's family has instructed them to institute a case against the hospital.

"We note that the complainant raises the matter of the serious violation of fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed in the Constitution, which the hospital ought to have respected and promoted.

The violations call for legal action against your institution," the letter states in part.

CEHURD claims that Kibuli Hospital received the letter on March 22, 2019 but when contacted by New Vision, the hospital administrator, Siraje Mbulambago, denied knowledge of the letter and selling of blood.

"We do not sell blood, but if they have a basis upon which they are making the claim, let them petition the Medical Council and courts of law for redress," he said.

Receiving the petition on Thursday, the registrar of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, Dr Ssentongo Katumba, said they will summon the Kibuli Hospital management to file their defence in regard to the allegations.