After waiting for more than six months, the husband of maternal death victim Luann Rodney says he has lost hope that the Ministry of Health or the Georgetown Public Hospi-tal will contact him to give an update on the outcome of his wife’s case.
“Up to this day no one has told me anything else. No one has called to say we did this or that investigation and this or that is what we found. Look I just don’t know if they will say anything or they just left me so,” Nigel Rodney told Stabroek News.
In June last year, Luann Rodney, 28, and her baby died during delivery at the Georgetown Public Hospi-tal (GPH).
Doctors had expressed dissatisfaction with the way the woman was treated and had opined that it was a death that
could have been easily avoided. Concerns were raised as to the use of the pill Cytotec. The pill was inserted into Luann Rodney to induce labour as she was long past her due date. She was due to deliver by May 22 and the pill was inserted on the night of June 3.
An autopsy revealed that the woman’s uterus had ruptured, causing her to bleed profusely and die from haemorrhagic shock.
Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran had told Stabroek News on June 19 last year that a report into the young woman’s death was complete and that the obstetrician who was on duty at the time has been sent on administrative leave pending a decision by Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud. The decision to send the doctor on leave was made by GPH officials.
On the recommendation of the expert committee that conducted investigations into Luann Rodney’s death, a decision was made to send the obstetrician and two nurses who were on duty at the time for remedial classes in their respective fields with the aim of further educating them.
However Stabroek News has learned that the obstetrician and the two nurses, while not seen carrying out duties, had reported for work last week.
Rodney’s husband said that while he was aware via news reports that his wife’s file was sent to the expert committee for investigation, the MOH and GPH have not communicated with him since last August.
He explained that it was around mid August last that he had last spoken to any official as he had visited the GPHC then to seek an update but none was given. “Last August I went on my own you know to check up and see what these people doing. I spoke to this woman Mitzy Campbell (GPH’s Public Relations Officer) and nothing de change. I left there feeling so down that I didn’t bother to go back because I feel I wasted my time,” he said.
“It seemed to me that I am the only one that was pushing trying to get to the bottom of this and no one else cared. I feel hurt you know that no call nothing at all to say ‘Well this is what happening,’’’ the woman’s husband said.
He informed that since his wife’s death his life has changed significantly as he has had to make major adjustments to his work and daily schedule. This is because with Luann gone he has to care for their young daughter.
“I weed and it hard because nuff days I can’t go out early to start because I have to take care of my daughter; ensure that she is ready for school and everything at home in order before I leave,” he said.
“By the time I get out to start work half the day done and the sun stand up hot, hot. I get a set a work back up right now but I have my daughter and she comes first,” he added.
Further, he informed that his family assists him with the caring of his daughter since as a man not accustomed to doing same he sometimes bungles the job. “My sister would plait my daughter hair on the weekend to give me an ease because when I plait it, it ain’t no plait to talk about. The hair is deh all over the place and I is feel shame to send the girl anywhere with them plaits sticking out so,” he said.
He pointed out that while he has accepted the fact that his wife won’t be returning he would derive some comfort hearing that “something man, anything” positive comes out of her death. “Well she dead already but you mean they can’t say something come out of it? Will this be just another death and nobody cares?” he questioned.
