UAE | General

D'Souzas trust authorities to do justice

Focus of suspected food poisoning case shifts to perceived negligence on part of private hospital.

  • By Mick O'Reilly, Deputy Managing Editor
  • Published: 23:23 June 26, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Chelsea and Nathan
  • Image Credit:

Dubai: Patrick D'Souza - father of Nathan and Chelsea, who died two weeks ago of suspected food poisoning - says responsibility now rests with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Police to ensure justice is done.

Reacting to Gulf News that the DHA has found negligence on the part of the private NMC hospital in Al Qusais when treating his wife and children for food poisoning on June 12, the heart-broken father said: "They just let them out without proper care. Now my children are gone and I'm preparing to take them to France for burial.

"There's not a lot more [that] can be said," he said. "It's now up to the authorities to ensure that justice is done for Nathan and Chelsea. The authorities need to follow up and make sure this never happens again to anyone."

In terms of the future, D'Souza said he hasn't made any decision on initiating legal action against NMC Hospital.

"Right now, it's up to the Dubai authorities to follow up on this negligence, and my wife and I have trust they will see that justice is done. This isn't about food poisoning anymore, it's about ensuring people who go to hospital get proper treatment."

Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid, director of the DHA, said on Thursday that while investigations were still underway, the authority had "found that the private hospital has been negligent in more than one area".

Nathan, five, and Chelsea, seven, were admitted to the hospital the morning after eating a takeaway Chinese meal.

They were treated and released but Nathan's condition subsequently worsened and he died at the hospital the same day. Chelsea died the next day at Dubai Hospital.

Al Murooshid blamed NMC hospital for a number of violations. He said that the three patients (mother and two children) came to the hospital with a critical intestinal problem. Doctors present should have been able to assume that something was wrong and taken steps to treat them, he added.

The hospital discharged the three while it should have kept then under observation for a minimum of six hours, Al Murooshid said, also stressing the fact that the hospital had failed to inform the DHA or the municipality of the three cases.

Police were informed only when the girl was brought back to hospital and the little boy had passed away while procedures call for three authorities to be informed - DHA, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Police.

Al Murooshid also observed that when it was decided to transfer Chelsea to Dubai Hospital, NMC took two-and-a-half hours to deliver the child because of various procedures.

The DHA has not received any notice from NMC until now.

The hospital was also at fault in that its emergency room did not have the services of a specialist at the crucial juncture, Al Murooshid said, adding that an investigation committee has been set up.

The violations committed by NMC are, Al Murooshid said, it did not treat the cases as emergencies; it discharged the cases, leading to the first death; and it did not inform any official authority in Dubai about anything until the boy died and, even after that, they only informed the police.

The hospital will be given the chance to explain what happened, he said, but surmised that there is a difference between neglect and wrong diagnosis and the three cases had been treated with neglect.

Al Murooshid said that doctors should have assumed there was something seriously wrong when the mother and her two young children showed similar symptoms and complained of abdominal pains.

NMC Hospital sources were not available for comment when contacted by Gulf News.


Your comments


It is really very painful, that the doctors have not diagnosed and treated properly, when the cases were reported to them. As the deceased kids' father rightly said justice should not only be done, but justice should be seem to have been done. The authorities concerned should strive to uphold the cannons of justice and equity.
Venkat.S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 27, 2009, 16:55

It's really shocking to know that within a couple of hours one loses his two children.
Syed Itrat A. Rizvi
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: June 27, 2009, 16:45

I did work in the UAE as er nurse for 8 years. The hospital management particularly the doctors in charge should have admitted the children for observation, that's SOP for any food poisoning case much more for children who are more vulnerable for dehydration.
Lyndon Ledesma
Manila,Philippines
Posted: June 27, 2009, 15:58

The World would appriciate if DHA could give proper justice to Mr. Patrick D'Souza.
Reshma Ambre
Mumbai,India
Posted: June 27, 2009, 14:25

Nothing is more precious than life. I pray that the father can move on after this sad incident. And as for the Dept. of Health, regular visits must be conducted to all hospitals in the UAE to ensure proper hospital guidelines are observed.
Epifanio Salita
Manila,Philippines
Posted: June 27, 2009, 14:16

What has happened is truly sad. But as the father said earlier I think alot more emphasis must be placed on the hospitals,How could these children just be discharged, and were they even looked after properly or just given a few drugs and told to go home. I think these questions need answering. Im not saying it is not the fault of the restaurant, but please people should investigate both parties equally.
Jaimish Damani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 27, 2009, 13:36

Did anyone take into consideration that food may have been in contact with rat poison or any pest control chemical?
Natalie
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 27, 2009, 13:35

Its really tragic. Justice should prevail. May God gives strength to the father and bless the children in Heaven.
Syed Arif Ali Zaidi
Salmiya,Kuwait
Posted: June 27, 2009, 13:34

Oh how I do wish Mr. D'Souza does take legal action. Neglect is bad enough in any industry, but worst in health care. Unforgivable.
Zaher Rishmawi
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 27, 2009, 13:08

It's truly very sad for the father. I admire his composure, still concerned about others that the same will not happen. God bless him and help him recover.
Elizabeth E. Angeles
Mandaluyong,Philippines
Posted: June 27, 2009, 12:18

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