Alex Segbefia, Health Minister
A patient has sued six medical doctors, the 37 Military Hospital, the Attorney General and the Ghana Health Service for medical negligence.
The action by the plaintiff, Mr Wisdom Tettey Narh, comes two years after he lost a limb owing to what he describes as the negligence of his caregivers when he was taken to the hospital for treatment after an accident.
The pharmacy technician got involved in the accident in February, 2014.
According to him, due to the substantial injuries sustained, he was referred by the Tema General Hospital to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was admitted at the emergency ward.
He said contrary to standard regulations for treatment of accident patients, he was left unattended to for three days during which time his wounds developed infections.
But he said without any laboratory tests to ascertain which antibiotic was ideal for treatment of his condition, he was put on wrong medication by doctors until it became too late to save his limb due to the spread of the infections.
He had to be amputated, leaving him with a permanent disability.
In connection with this case and similar others, the Ministry of Health has admonished health facilities across the county to prioritise emergency cases reported at their facilities.
Health Minister Alex Segbefia told Class FM that negligence in such cases were unpardonable. According to Mr Segbefia, “health officials must be more proactive in keeping better records when people are brought to the facilities”.
Mr Segbefia welcomed the legal action, explaining that “it was a good thing because people will be on their toes”.
He was of the view that the suit may also have a consequence “on the number of staff who should be on duty at any time and the nature of record-keeping at health facilities”.
