Following a spate of maternal deaths at hospitals around the country, 19-year-old Shinnel George a first-time mother of West Demerara was also very nearly another statistic. Instead, aggressive treatment by Dr Vish Persaud has made her a case in point – a specific example that pregnant women with severe complications can be saved if medical professionals do all they ought to do.
The Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) was extremely forthcoming with the details of Ms George’s confinement, her complications and what was done by its staff to save her life. This is in sharp contrast to the unavailability and close-mouthed actions of officials at the GPH and other hospitals when the outcome of similar cases does not reflect the hospital in a positive light. The fact that an investigation needs to be done to determine what could have caused the demise of a pregnant woman does not prevent a responsible institution from giving at least a preliminary statement. As a matter of fact, it should be the rule rather than the exception.
In a statement to the press, the GPH’s Public Relations Officer Ms Alero Proctor was quoted as saying, “we wanted to highlight one of the miracle stories…” A miracle is said to be ‘an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God’ or ‘any amazing or wonderful event.’ Was Ms Proctor’s reference to Ms George’s case as “a miracle” simply a poor choice of words by the PRO or was she implying that the GPH is not normally capable of saving lives, which is what hospitals do every day? Preeclampsia, while it could be life-threatening, is a condition that competent medical practitioners ought to look for in pregnant women, particularly when they fit other common stereotypes. Modern hospitals ought to have established systems or standard operating procedures that should be followed to the letter when medical emergencies are presented. Obviously, this was done in Ms George’s case. And, as we have said before in this column, if procedures are followed and everything possible is done there would be nothing to complain about and nothing for the GPH or any other hospital to defend. However, we recognize that we are dealing with human beings and that in many instances there is need for an attitude adjustment to be done.
That said, Dr Persaud and his team deserve plaudits for having done their jobs extremely well in Ms George’s case and this is the type of action that should be applauded and held up as the standard to which some of their peers should aspire.
What was also telling, was Dr Persaud’s statement that “Dr [Madan] Rambaran came to me personally and said we can’t let her die…” While it’s a pity that others did die before, this is a clear indication that Dr Rambaran, as Director of Medical and Professional Services at the GPH, recognized the need to prove that the hospital’s staff are capable, and attempt to remove what has become a stigma at what is in fact one of the country’s best equipped medical institutions.
Complications in pregnancy are fairly common and some can be dangerous. That Ms George survived her obviously dangerous situation, speaks to the fact that cases of this kind do not have to be fatal. The work by Dr Persaud and his team has provided a ray of hope; may it continue to shine.
