The investigation into the deaths of five-year-old Nathan D'Souza and his seven-year-old sister Chelsea two weeks ago has seemingly shifted from one of food poisoning to that of the level of attention and care they received in the emergency room of the NMC Speciality Hospital in Al Qusais.
An initial investigation by the Dubai Health Authority has pointed out flaws in the manner in which the two children and their mother, Anne-Sophie, were treated after they arrived at the facility.
Whatever the full investigation may unearth, there is a universal principle that needs to be remembered, enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath sworn by medical professionals: Do no harm.
Every patient deserves the best treatment possible, regardless of creed, colour or class. Medical professionals have a moral obligation to ensure all receive the best treatment possible. Profit margins don't matter, the patients are the bottom line.
Your comments
My deepest condolences to the family.
Time and again, we hear such incidents happening not only in Dubai but in other parts of the world as well. And yes, I definitely agree that at the end of the day,saving the lives of poeple should be the main priority of all hospitals.
Hospital are not prone to commiting a mistake for they are also run by humans, same as the restuarant accused of serving the spoilt food. Likewise, accidents do happen and nobody can prevent that. So I guess the best thing for everyone concerned to do is to review carefully the incident and their practices in situations like this; adopt changes if need be, so as to make sure that such incidents never happen again.
Joseph Rafael de Leon
Umm Al Quwain,UAE
Posted: June 28, 2009, 14:30