DAP SRI AMAN

Press Release

Villagers seek compensation from  Sri Aman Hospital over negligence

DAP Sri Aman was approached by a very distraught family who has just lost their newborn baby. They claimed that the baby passed away due to negligence by Sri Aman Hospital staff.

Madam Mading anak Roney gave birth to a healthy baby boy on the 11th of March.

On the 14th March, they brought the baby to the hospital to do a routine check. It was found out that the baby had jaundice with a count of 18 which required the baby to be hospitalized for observation.

However, on the 15th March, after a check at 8am, the hospital nurses noticed the sugar level has increased to 4.9. The baby's mother tried to breastfeed him but he refused so after so many times trying, the staff decided to give oxygen to the baby which made his sugar level to go down to 2.7. The baby's condition got weaker because of him refusing to milk from his mother which led the hospital staff to do an x-ray and later on try to insert a respiratory tube, only to mishandle the insertion procedure which prompted them to do it again, therefore injuring the Baby internally. The nurses deduced that the baby had a germ infection so they had to do an antibiotic injection. At 3pm, the hospital staff said that they had to send the baby to Kuching for further treatment.

At 4.30 pm they did another x-ray on the baby to check on the baby's condition and at 5.20pm, the nurses told the mother that they had to shave the baby's head in order for them to insert a respiratory tube thru the baby's head. After they inserted the respiratory tube, the baby's heartbeat stopped & the nurses tried to revive the baby for 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, the hospital pronounced the baby had passed away to the parents.'

'The family is now asking DAP Sri Aman to help them seek compensation from the Sri Aman Hospital for negligence.

Mdm Mading also said that one of the doctors advised her to never to go to Sri Aman Hospital to give birth. Better to go to Kuching, Sibu or Miri.

One of the questions asked by even some of the hospital staff, how could a healthy baby got infected by a deadly germ in a supposedly clean hospital environment?

One of the respiratory machines was reported broken, this shows the level of dilipated machinery in our old hospital. A police report has been made by the victim's parents and we will act accordingly by sending the letter of demand to the Health Ministry ', said Leon Jimat Donald, DAP Sarawak Vice Chairman.

'The PM came to Sri Aman to lay the foundation for the site of Sri Aman Hospital recently , but until today, nothing is being done at the site. Until how many unnecessary accidental deaths such as these can BN wait before they start building our badly needed hospital?'

'The original budget for the Sri Aman Hospital was originally RM200 million in 2011. Recently it was announced by PM Najib that the hospital would cost RM150 million. Why cut it? Taking into account the rising material cost over the years, this is absolutely unacceptable to the people of Sri Aman! This is also one of the reasons why DAP Sarawak, under our Bintulu Declaration, seeks to have for Sarawak, its own Medical Autonomy. We must have the right to make hospitals, get more doctors and nurses and have the right to have access to better medical facilities instead of forever begging from Putrajaya," said Leon Donald.



Leon Jimat Donald

Madam Mading ak Roney with her family.