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MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
GPH doctors suspended over maternal deaths – eight cases recorded so far this year
T
wo doctors have been suspended by the Georgetown Public Hospital for their involvement in two of the eight maternal deaths recorded in the country so far this year, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud said. He said the doctors are currently undergoing further training during their suspension to better prepare them to deal with the challenges on resumption of duty. Meanwhile, less than two years ahead of the Millennium Development Goal deadline, Guyana is battling to reduce maternal deaths to less than 10 per year. Half-way through the year, the Health Ministry has recorded eight maternal deaths with two additional women dying during pregnancy.
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Dr Persaud said the 10 cases were placed into two categories: direct deaths (maternal deaths due to complications during pregnancy) and indirect deaths caused by accidents and illness. “So far for 2013, 10 women have died during pregnancy, not all deaths of women during pregnancy are maternal deaths. They can die from other causes including accidents or diseases,” the CMO explained. While declining to disclose details such as name of the victims and their cases, Dr Persaud said one of the indirect deaths was caused by malaria. “The second woman had a previous history of malaria, but during her pregnancy, she developed some illnesses that weren’t related to the pregnancy before she eventually succumbed.” Investigations are still ongoing. Meanwhile, four of the maternal deaths occurred at the Georgetown Public Hospital while one each occurred at the New Amsterdam, Diamond
“If the diagnosis is not made quickly, that ruptured ectopic can usually lead to a catastrophic outcome,” he warned. Another of the deaths was linked to an abortion and although the termination was done in keeping with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1995, the patient developed serious complications.
Training
Dr Shamdeo Persaud
Regional Diagnostic, Suddie and Balwant Singh hospitals. The Health Ministry has observed similar trends as previous years where pregnancy induced hypertension associated with postpartum hemorrhage continues to be a major problem. “It seems to still be the challenge, so we have been looking at the availability of adequate emergency obstetric management because these are all cases where the pregnancy can start off very well... but there may have been some major gaps as it relates to monitoring.” Additionally, the Health Ministry is in the process of putting corrective systems in place to ensure that there are essential blood and blood products in stock at government hospitals to prevent reoccurrence of postpartum hemorrhage. It was pointed out that among the eight maternal deaths; one was related to ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity. Dr Persaud said from the early stages of pregnancy, clinicians should closely monitor women within a particular age group to detect certain signs and symptoms, in an effort to investigate any case of ectopic pregnancy.
With the majority of cases completed, two doctors from GPH have thus far been suspended due to their negligence causing death. “We have recommended that those doctors go through training to ensure that they understand the importance that these lapses do not occur again in the future.” Luan Rodney, 28, of Meadow Brook, Georgetown, is among the eight direct deaths to occur this year. Rodney died on June 4 while giving birth at the GPH. According to health officials, Rodney suffered a ruptured uterus after a difficult birth. Some two weeks after, Orian Williams, 29, of Region One suffered a similar fate at the GPH. After visiting the Kumaka Hospital follow-
ing a premature delivery, the 29-year-old arrived at the GPH on June 20. According to the GPH, she was “unresponsive” upon arrival and despite efforts to rescue her; the hemorrhaging was too severe, resulting in her death. During the same period last year, there were eight maternal deaths while two were indirect deaths. However, by the end of 2012, 23 women had died. In keeping with the MDG, the Health Ministry is working earnestly to keep the deaths at eight for 2013. Additionally, it is currently working along with the Finance Ministry to develop a MDG accelerated framework on maternal health in Guyana. From the eight MDGs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is assisting Caribbean countries in achieving one of the goals. Guyana’s report has been submitted to the UNDP and is slated to be implemented from 2013 to 2015.