By Anna-Lisa Paul
A senior manager at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) has been mandated to investigate the circumstances that led to a patient’s death following her treatment and release from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) over the weekend.
Relatives of Keisha Howell, 31, claimed she was taken to the facility on Saturday after it was suspected she had contracted the Zika virus.
After being examined, she was subsequently released and asked to return last Monday. An autopsy revealed she died from multiple organ failure.
Contacted on the matter yesterday, a senior official at the NCRHA, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed he was “awaiting a report on it from the Quality Department.”
“This is in keeping with our Adverse Events Policy which clearly states that a quality investigative report is to be done,” he added.
The probe will involve a review of the patient’s medical file from the time she was admitted to the hospital, as well as speaking with doctors and nurses who would have treated her.
The senior manager has been given until the end of the week to submit his report.
He confirmed he had been in contact with Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on the issue as well.
The Ministry of Agriculture employee was admitted to the EWMSC on Saturday after suffering intense vomiting and abdominal pains for close to a week. This followed a referral from a private doctor who advised she may have contracted the Zika virus.
Howell’s family is now claiming her death was as a result of a misdiagnosis and lack of proper treatment. (Trinidad Guardian)
