Man who lost eye to get full treatment

Abu Dhabi/Ajman: Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, has issued instructions to provide full medical treatment to the 22-year-old Emirati who lost his eye after a doctor allegedly assaulted him in GMC hospital in Ajman on Tuesday.

Hassan also instructed to take legal action against the doctor and suspend him from work until a decision is issued by legal authorities investigating the case.

The decisions were announced by Dr Salem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, when he visited the victim, Omran Hassan, at Shaikh Khalifa Hospital in Ajman on Wednesday.

Instructions

Al Darmaki said the minister was following up the case while he is outside the country, and has issued instructions to provide the patient with all necessary treatment inside or outside the country and to work to reduce the damage in any possible way.

Al Darmaki said the law will take its course, and the doctor will be suspended from practicing medicine until the investigation is concluded and legal action is taken. He said the Medical Practices and Licensing Department was instructed not to allow the doctor to practice until the final report is submitted, identifying the responsibility of the doctor and anyone involved in the assault. If the doctor gets convicted, he would be banned from practicing medicine permanently, Al Darmaki said..

Al Darmaki said Khalifa Hospital received the patient as soon as he arrived from GMC. All necessary arrangements were made, and the victim was examined by doctors and consultants, who took necessary medical measures.

The ministry is following up the investigation, he said, pointing out that the doctor's behaviour is completely condemned and violates the ethics and laws of medical practice. Khalifa Hospital is preparing a detailed report about the patient's case, Al Darmaki said, adding that the ministry condemns such practices.

Firm action will be taken through the Medical Licensing department to ensure this does not happen again, and that all medical practitioners commit to the laws and ethics of practicing medicine, he said.

Al Darmaki underscored that all health facilities in the UAE are carrying out their duties in providing health care for all people, and individual faulty practices will be punished, as no leniency will be shown towards those who harm the health and dignity of people.

Father seeks help

Yousuf Abdullah, father of the victim, yesterday told Gulf News that his family was too poor to get the sight of his son back.

"We are poor family. I have six children," said the weeping father. Abdullah, a former policeman, said he needed help to get the sight of his son back. The victim, Emran, was his eldest son, he said.

"We never hurt anyone. My son never hurt anyone. He went to that hospital for treatment but that doctor brutally poked his eye," the father said.

— With additional inputs from Bassma Al Jandaly, Senior Reporter