Mother to sue hospital for negligence

The mother of an eight-and-a-half-year-old girl, who lost four of her left fingers on admission, has threatened to sue the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi in centgral Ghana for 60 million cedis in damages for lack of proper care. $1 = 6,800 cedis).

Madam Enyonam Tamakloe, the girl's mother told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that sometime in July 1998, her daughter, Faustina Tamakloe, was admitted to the hospital and was put on drips.

She said the following day the child's left hand was swollen, so she drew the attention of the nurse on duty who said she could not do anything about it without instructions from the doctor in charge. Madam Tamakloe said when she enquired, the name of the medical officer was given as Dr Ansong, who allegedly refused to attend to her daughter.

Three days later, a medical officer whose name was given as Dr Agbenyega, removed the drips and put it on her head, the girl's mother said. She said Dr Agbenyega found that Faustina was anaemic and needed blood, so she donated a pint which was transfused through the patient's head.

Madam Tamakloe said the swollen hand was bandaged for three days and when it was untied, four of her fingers which were rotten, fell off, leaving the thumb.

Madam Tamakloe said she petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to prevail upon KATH to compensate her for the negligence leading to the deformity on her daughter.

She said since May 1999, when CHRAJ took up the matter, however, there had been no response from the KATH.