Charges against hospital refuted

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 3 July 2009

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) confirmed on Monday that neither negligence nor malpractice happened in the treatment of a patient at a private hospital in Dubai.
The family of the patient Maitha Obaid Al Baloushi had lodged a complaint with the DHA that her neurological condition aggravated after she was medically treated in the hospital.
The patient was later sent to Hannover in Germany for advance treatment.
"Following the complaint, the DHA formed an investigation committee consisting of neurologists and neurosurgeons as well as members from the Legal Affairs Department," said a spokesperson at DHA.
"In the physical absence of the patient, the special investigation committee requested a medical report from the doctors in Germany as a substitute to the examination," said the spokesperson.
The DHA said that the committee reviewed the entire medical records and the history of the patient, and interrogated the specialist doctor who provided treatment to the patient, as well as the hospital's director. They also interviewed the brother of Al-Baloushi, and evaluated the medical report submitted by the International Neuroscience Institute in Hannover, Germany.
The spokesperson said, "The investigation committee finally confirmed that there was no negligence or maltreatment in the patient's treatment, which was not below the international standards."
"The unfortunate impediments associated with this particular case was caused due to a rare complication that can occur in this type of procedure."