• Home
• /
• UAE
• /
• Crime

Bariatric surgery: Hospital cleared of patient’s death

Investigations show that 30-year-old Akram Hamdan, the patient, suffered postoperative complications, spanning leg blood clots and acute pulmonary embolisms or post sleeve gastrectomy leak

Ras Al Khaimah — The Ministry of Health, following a thorough investigation, has discharged the Fujairah government hospital from the responsibility of a patient’s death two weeks after weight loss surgery.
“The medical team, in charge of the bariatric surgery, professionally dealt with the patient’s case as per the due medical protocols and rules before and after the surgery,” affirmed the special investigative committee assigned by the ministry.
The same committee has also discharged the Saqr government hospital in Ras Al Khaimah from the responsibility of the Palestinian young man’s death after being shifted to it in a critical condition, according to informed sources.
“All the medical facilities needed for the weight loss operation were available at Fujairah hospital, and the surgeon who performed the operation is well-known for his exceptional expertise in the field.”
Preparations for the ‘laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy’ surgery went been pretty well, the committee underlined. “The operation was carried out in an excellent way as well.”
Investigations show that 30-year-old Akram Hamdan, the patient, suffered postoperative complications, spanning leg blood clots and acute pulmonary embolisms or post sleeve gastrectomy leak, they explained.
“Such are widely accepted as frequent medical complications worldwide,” pointed out the committee which included three consultant surgeons who met with all surgeons and medical team concerned, as well as the relatives of the deceased.
“The ministry deals with zero tolerance with any medical error and stringently takes all punitive procedures against violators of set medical protocols and rules,” the same sources, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
The UAE is one of the few countries which enact a special legislation on ‘medical responsibility’, they added. “The ‘Supreme Committee for Medical Responsibility’ has been formed and equipped with judicial power to look into any case involving a possible medical error, as per Federal Law No 10/2008.
According to medical sources, the Saqr hospital had refused to do the operation on the 200kg heavy Palestinian man despite his repetitive request. “The bariatric surgery proved to be a grave risk for the young man due to his unfit health conditions.”
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com