Mother hits out at hospital for negligence after death of son

The mother of the boy who died with  a forked hoe lodged in his skull is now blaming Kenyatta National Hospital for negligence.

Though the hospital management has dismissed the claim, Judy Muthoni, who lives in Kilimambogo, Thika, decried delays from KNH staff at the Casualty Wing, saying they were told the medics were attending to a different emergency.

“For the better part of the morning hours yesterday, my son was in a stable condition. He was actually talking. However, as time went on, his condition deteriorated and it was at this point that I tried to call the doctors. When I asked them why the delay, they said there were emergency cases ahead of me. If they handled my son as we arrived, he may not have died,” she said.

The mother of three who is a casual laborer said she waited for close to five hours before the boy was attended to.

“By the time they were taking him to the theatre, I was almost convinced that he could not wake up. All this time, my son had not eaten anything. Doctors told me that I should not even give him water,” she said.

Muthoni said that she rushed to KNH, the biggest referral hospital in East and Central Africa, after initially being rushed to Thika Level V Hospital. She said that the incident happened on Monday midday hours when she was at the garden.

Rushed ti chemist

 Immediately, Muthoni says that she rushed to a nearby chemist where her son was given first-aid before they rushed him to Thika Level V Hospital.

 At Thika Level V, Muthoni says that the doctors said the condition could best be handled at KNH.

“The doctors at Thika talked with their colleagues in KNH and they planned to attend to us immediately, it is at this point that they ordered an ambulance for us. We left Thika knowing that my son would be attended to immediately. How the situation changed to us having to wait for close to 10 hours  is something that I am still yet to understand,” she said.

 In a statement, KNH through the chairman of the board, George Ooko said they did everything they could to save the boy’s life.

 Ooko said that immediately the baby arrived at the hospital a team of medics attended to him to ensure he is stable before a surgery was performed.

Detected anomalies

He said that the medics also commenced a process of correcting the detected anomalies by giving blood products and medication. Ooko said that the boy’s condition deteriorated despite interventions.

“ In theatre, the patient developed complications and resuscitation attempts were futile, following the demise, the parents were invited for a family conference where chronology of actions was discussed and explained to them as the news of death was communicated,” said Ooko.’

 The family said that the post-mortem is set to take place today as they prepare to have the burial ceremony tomorrow.

Hospital negligence

The news of the baby’s death was met with uproar from Kenyans who accused the hospital of negligence while others tried defending the doctors who had to wait for the baby to stabilize first.

 “We can blame negligence all we want but these doctors have their hands tied in some cases so they really want to help but laws make them wait for certain procedures and that needs to be addressed,” said Moses Mwangi.

 Mwaganu Kimani blamed the hospital for negligence.

“KNH has a problem and it should be addressed as soon as possible. A lot of people suffer at the emergency wing. Most of the medics there are not only rude but careless as well,’ said Kimani.

Others sent out prayers for and condolences to the mother.

 “ Just talked to the mother of the baby a while ago to find out the progress after the surgery. The baby has rested. It was a very painful death. May he rest in peace. Pray for the family,” wrote former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.