Doctor acquitted in patient’s death case

TDT | Manama

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The High Appeals Court has delivered a significant verdict in the case of a patient’s death at Salmaniya Medical Complex, acquitting one female junior doctor and reducing the sentence of another, a female senior doctor. The incident occurred in March 2023, involving an inmate at the Reform and Rehabilitation Directorate who complained of abdominal pain. The patient underwent an appendectomy at Salmaniya Medical Complex. Post-surgery, he experienced chest pains.

A nurse contacted the senior resident doctor on duty, informing her of the patient’s condition. Instead of personally examining the patient or sending another senior doctor, the senior resident instructed the nurse to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG) and promised to examine him later. Following the ECG, the nurse again contacted the senior resident, who was reportedly busy with other patients.

Examination

She delegated the examination to a junior resident doctor. The junior doctor examined the patient and reported back to the senior resident, who prescribed a sedative. The patient subsequently died.