Paediatrician, resident doctor convicted of malpractice

Dubai: A specialist paediatrician neonatologist and a resident doctor have been convicted of malpractice and negligence that led to a one-day-old premature baby girl’s death after failing to resuscitate her.

The 41-year-old Canadian paediatrician and the Indian female doctor were said to have failed to perform appropriate neonatal resuscitative measures and proper medical care to the Filipina baby girl, who died after 22 hours from birth.

The Dubai Misdemeanor Court found the paediatrician and the doctor accountable for the baby’s death and handed them a six-month suspended imprisonment each.

The Indian resident doctor was sentenced in absentia because she left the country shortly after her contract expired with the Dubai-based hospital.

The Canadian firmly refuted his accusations and pleaded not guilty when he defended himself before the court.

According to the accusation sheet, the paediatrician and the doctor failed to carry out their jobs properly and accidentally caused the baby’s death when they failed to apply the required precautionary measures to resuscitate her.

Prosecutors said the Indian lacked proper experience to resuscitate the premature baby meanwhile the Canadian failed to perform endotracheal intubation and needle aspiration to the aforementioned baby.

The baby was given the inappropriate medical care that caused complications which led to her death, according to prosecution records.

The 35-year-old Filipina mother testified that she went for an ordinary check up for her pregnancy at the hospital when she was told that she was in labour on October 8, 2010.

“I was carrying twin girls and my expected delivery date was October 21, 2010. I was admitted for delivery as soon as I was told that I was in labour. They provided me with good care and treatment… but my elder twin didn’t cry when I first delivered her. I also noticed that some blueness on her mouth. She was immediately moved to the intensive care unit. Her sister was fine. The paediatrician constantly updated me on her condition until I was told that she expired after 22 hours. I also continued consulting him regarding my second twin after the incident. I didn’t doubt him for a second and believe that he did what he had to do. We didn’t know or hear of any malpractice and my husband signed a disclaimer concerning that before we were discharged from hospital,” claimed the mother.

Records said in October 2011, a consultant neonatologist, chaired a four-member investigation committee that looked into case upon the directives of the Dubai Healthcare Authority.

According to the committee’s findings the management of the baby was questionable and doctor, who attended the delivery, failed to perform appropriate neonatal resuscitation. “The diagnosis for meconium aspiration syndrome was made without any evidence of meconium staining of amniotic fluid and subsequent e-x-ray findings. There was also delay in the management of pneumothorax and administering of antibiotics. No attempts were made to transfer the baby to a specialized neonatal unit capable of handling such cases,” concluded the committee’s report.

Moreover the committee recommended referring the suspects to the Public Prosecution for further investigation. The Canadian paediatrician denied any liability and reiterated that he provided the victim with the proper care.

The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 13 days.