The
distressed
parents
of
Stephon
Hope
who
died
at
the
Georgetown
Public
Hospital
Corporation
(GPHC)
is
claiming
that
inadequate
medical
care
contributed
to
their
13-year-old
son’s
death.
Lately,
the
GPHC
has
come
in
for
much
criticism
from
other
patients
who
shared
their
story
and
those
who
complained
of
the
lack
of
proper
services.
The
father,
Cyril
Hope,
said
that
his
son
was
hospitalised
for
three
weeks
last
December
because
he
was
diagnosed
with
leukemia.
He
was
given
blood
and
plasma
and
some
other
medication.
His
condition
improved
so
he
was
discharged
and
was
asked
to
return
on
January
17.
“When
he
turned
up
he
was
given
iron
tablets
and
another
date
in
June,”
Cyril
said.
He
added
that
two
weeks
later,
the
symptoms
returned
and
his
son
was
taken
to
the
Accident
and
Emergency
Ward
on
January
31,
and
was
admitted
into
the
Pediatric
Ward.
He
was
placed
in
a
room
at
the
back
with
an
IV
line
placed
in
his
hand.
This
line
was
removed
on
the
Monday
morning.
The
father
said
that
when
the
female
doctor
came
to
the
ward
she
was
told
about
the
child’s
condition.
He
said
that
he
indicated
to
her
that
the
IV
line
came
out
and
that
he
wasn’t
eating.
“She
ordered
that
the
tube
be
replaced
so
that
the
saline
can
continue
and
he
be
given
plasma.
Dr
Salim
succeeded
in
replacing
the
IV
line
but
movement
by
the
child
cause
the
line
to
slip
out.
He
became
annoyed
and
refused
to
insert
it
again
and
left.
No
one
else
administered
any
other
treatment,”
Cyril
said.
According
the
mother,
Simone
Hope,
later
that
evening,
Dr.
Salim
returned
and
was
begged
by
her
husband
to
reinsert
the
IV
line
but
he
was
unsuccessful.
The
doctor
promised
to
get
someone
to
handle
it.
However,
he
never
returned
and
no
one
else
came.
She
explained
that
another
doctor
visited
the
ward
and
enquired
about
the
condition
of
the
child
and
the
IV
line
was
successfully
inserted.
However,
when
the
laboratory
technicians
were
taking
a
blood
sample
the
line
came
out
again.
“He
ordered
a
“cut-down”
since
the
child’s
hand
was
swollen
and
no
vein
could
be
found.
After
careful
examination
of
his
mouth
the
doctor
diagnosed
that
platelets
were
needed
but
was
informed
by
an
intern
that
plasma
was
ordered.
An
argument
ensued
and
the
doctor
insisted
that
platelets
were
needed,”
Simone
said.
The
father
explained
that
Dr
Bowman
examined
the
child
and
on
being
unsuccessful
in
finding
a
vein,
he
also
ordered
a
“cut-down”.
Immediately
it
was
done
and
treatment
began.
On
coming
out
of
anesthesia,
the
child
was
experiencing
severe
pain
and
bleeding
from
the
“cut-down”.
Simone
revealed
that
she
was
informed
that
her
son
was
given
an
injection
by
a
nurse
to
help
him
sleep.
“On
closer
examination
it
was
observed
that
the
child
was
breathing
very
heavily
and
I
went
to
get
the
nurse.
The
nurse
accompanied
me
back
to
the
room
and
told
us
to
rest,
that
he
will
be
okay.”
She
added
she
and
her
husband
took
positions
nearby
and
went
to
sleep.
They
were
awakened
by
a
nurse
who
told
her
husband
that
their
son
was
not
breathing.
Mr
Hope
went
over
and
laid
his
head
on
his
chest
to
confirm;
by
which
time
a
team
comprising
of
one
doctor
and
two
nurses
tried
to
administer
oxygen.
The
grieving
mother
further
said,
“The
doctor
then
examined
him
and
said
to
my
husband
“sorry
for
your
loss.”
“His
chart
was
sent
to
the
registry
but
we
requested
an
autopsy
to
be
performed.
The
findings
of
the
autopsy
did
not
confirm
the
cause
of
death.
Samples
were
taken
and
we
were
promised
the
results
within
two
to
three
weeks.”
The
father
revealed
that
upon
visiting
the
administration
of
the
GPHC
for
the
second
time
for
a
proper
response
of
their
son’s
cause
of
death
he
was
told
that
investigations
are
still
being
done
and
he
should
return
in
two
months.
The
parents
are
asking
for
a
proper
investigation
into
the
matter
so
that
they
can
find
closure.
When
Director
of
Medical
and
Professional
Services,
Madan
Rambaran,
was
contacted
he
said
that
the
post
mortem
was
indeterminate
and
specimens
were
taken
for
further
tests
to
be
done
in
requirements
of
the
Pathologist.
Saturday,
February
20,
2010
