Natalie Caseley, the mother of four-year-old Jaden Mars, who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in December after treatment for a bitten tongue, is moving to sue the hospital for compensation.
Caseley told Stabroek News that the decision came about after numerous failed attempts to attain justice for her son.
“I’ve given them a chance to do right by not only me but by Guyana at large but I’ve recognized that they are only engaging me a bit and after that I’m on my own,” she said.
Six months after her son’s death, Caseley still awaits disciplinary action to be taken against those culpable for Mars’ death. Since late April, she had been hearing that disciplinary actions were to be taken against four health care workers who had been involved in handling her son prior to his death late last year.
According to the mother, she had received reports that the implicated nurse had been “sent off” for training. However, the three culpable doctors are still on the job, she said. No one from the nursing or medical councils, she emphasised, had made contact with her.
She is also in the process of setting up a meeting with Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran. In the meantime, she is working closely with attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes to sue the hospital.
“I’ve given them a chance to update me and show me that they’re trying to bring about change,” Caseley pointed out. “However, they’re not doing that so it’s time to take them to court.”
Jaden had been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on December 4, 2013 after he had fallen while playing at his West Ruimveldt home and bitten his tongue. On December 11, he died in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital after suffering multiple heart crashes. A subsequent post-mortem examination showed that the young boy had died as a result of a pulmonary embolism.