The family of six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca, one of the three children who fell grievously ill after chemotherapy treatment and later succumbed back in January at the Georgetown Public Hospital said they are still awaiting the release of her medical records from the hospital.
At the conclusion of both the hospital and the Ministry of Public Health probes, the family was assured they would be given Mendonca’s medical records.
Mendonca’s family attorney, Ganesh Hira, on Thursday said that they were still awaiting Sharezer’s medical records from the hospital.
He explained that the hospital requested a grant of administration, since Mendonca was a minor and this was submitted.
However, on Wednesday when the family visited to uplift the medical records, Hira related that the family was told by the Chief Executive Officer, George Lewis that he would have to engage with the hospital’s attorney before he could hand over the medical records.
Hira stated that the family is frustrated with the push around and pointed out that they have been waiting for months for the medical documents.
The family’s attorney stressed that if the medical institution fails to provide the family with the medical information requested, they will seek an order from the court compelling the public hospital to make the documents available.
The investigations concluded that the protocols for administering the pre-chemotherapy drugs to the children were not adhered to. The drugs, which were previously not publicly named, were identified as vincristine and methotrexate. Deputy Medical Director, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle said vincristine was administered intrathecally (administration for drugs via an injection into the spinal canal) rather than intravenously (administration of drugs through the vein with an injection).
The three children who passed away were seven-year-old Corwin Edwards, who died on January 14th ; three-year-old Roshini Seegobin, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, who died on January 18th and Sharezer Mendonca, 6, of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, who died on January 24th. The three children had leukaemia and were treated by the same team of doctors
The three doctors who were directly involved were relieved of their duties and subsequently sent on administrative leave on January 29th. They currently remain on leave.
Head of the Medical Council, Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran told Stabroek News that the medical council has deliberated on the findings of the investigation and forwarded their comments to the disciplinary committee for their input. He noted that he could not comment any further on the issue.
Due to the gravity and circumstances of the issue, the Medical Council of Guyana had launched their own investigation into the tragedy.
