The family of carpenter Devanand Nauth, who died as a result of the poor medical care he received after he was struck down in accident, has been told that no charge can be brought against the driver who hit the man.
Nauth died at the Georgetown Hospital, where his leg was amputated after he was referred by the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he had been initially told his injuries were not serious.
His sister, Sita Ramsahoye, told Stabroek News that the police have told her that her brother’s file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further advice before the driver could be charged. But Ramsahoye also said that Commander for ‘D’ Division Christopher Griffith also told her that from analysing the case file, no charge can be brought against the driver of the vehicle, PMM 667, since he was not wrong and that the family will have to bring a civil action against the driver, if he is to be charged. She was also told that the family must have the eyewitnesses who were present on the day of the accident to give statements before the driver is prosecuted.
Ramsahoye expressed her frustration at the way in which the police are conducting the investigations. She said that despite the incident which occurred on August 4, the police only went to the scene of the accident last Saturday to measure the area.
On August 4, Nauth, 47, of 71 New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara was riding his bicycle on August 4 along the public road when he was struck down by a speeding car. He was sent flying several feet and sustained head, back, spinal and leg injuries.
He was rushed to the WDRH, where he was treated and sent away but was later transferred to the Georgetown Hospital after he complained of numbness from below his chest to his feet. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
Meanwhile, Region Three health officer Dr. Ravindranauth Persaud said that investigations into the matter are ongoing. They are in the process of collecting statements from nurses and doctors who were present at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on the day of that Nauth was taken for treatment. However, efforts to contact him yesterday were futile as his phone went unanswered.
The post-mortem examination that was performed on the remains of Nauth revealed that he died of respiratory failure due to a fractured spine. When contacted yesterday Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Hospital, Alero Procter, stated that she would be unable to say whether doctors at the hospital recognized that Nauth was suffering from respiratory problems and a fractured spine.
