KHRS expresses concern over rising cases of medical errors in hospitals

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Society condoles to family of five-year-old girl who died in Adan hospital

KUWAIT CITY, April 8: Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS) expressed concern over the increasing number of medical negligence cases and medical malpractices in hospitals — about 450 cases per month as per the records of the Criminal Evidence General Department in the Interior Ministry.

In a press statement, the society expressed condolences to the family of Hajar Al-Mutairi, a five-year-old girl who died due to medical negligence and malpractice in diagnosis by a doctor in Adan Hospital. The doctor discharged the child declaring that “the internal bleeding has been contained.” The child was involved in a traffic accident so she was rushed to the Emergency Unit at the hospital.

According to her father, a doctor told him that there was 20 percent chance his daughter would need surgery to stop internal bleeding. Three hours later, the doctor told him that his daughter does not need surgery and that she was referred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After that, the child was taken to the observation room as the doctor said the bleeding has been taken care of.

Three days later, the child was discharged from the hospital, but complications emerged resulting in her death. The society called for enactment of laws which protect patients and organize medical responsibility. It pointed out the current laws have loopholes and lack stipulation on regulating doctor’s responsibility, in addition to major differences between Kuwaiti laws and that of neighboring countries in this regard.

It is worth mentioning that KHRS was established in 1988 as a branch of the Arab Organization for Human Rights. It is a non-governmental and nonprofit organization, which aims to protect and promote human rights in Kuwait and the Arab region according to international and United Nations standards.

The society was officially established on Nov 6, 2004 under the name ‘Kuwait Society for Human Rights’. The society is keen on realizing its objectives through legal means. It does not participate in political activities as it focuses on human rights violations and is against violent acts either by the government or by civil groups.

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