Death linked to alleged medical negligence raises concerns

31 December 2023 01:10 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 24 Bookmark

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Colombo, Dec 30 (Daily Mirror) -Minister of Health Dr Ramesh Pathirana has urgently requested a comprehensive report from the Director of the Colombo National Hospital over a tragic death of a patient following the administration of high levels of carbon dioxide.

The incident has raised alarming questions about potential medical negligence, as it is reported that the patient may have been mistakenly administered high levels of carbon dioxide instead of life-sustaining oxygen.

According to sources, the alleged mix-up in administering gases has prompted heightened scrutiny as it is suggested that such negligence could have dire consequences, potentially leading to the loss of a patient's life.

The victim, Nuala Thevathasan, is a 58-year-old woman living in the Nugegoda area.

She was admitted to Ward No. 6A and underwent breast surgery in Operating Room B, tragically passing away following the procedure.

Comments - 24

Ram Sunday, 31 December 2023 02:52 AM

Minister appear to be prudent to call for a report. I hope he will take action against the persons responsible irrespective of their positions

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dotv Sunday, 31 December 2023 03:04 AM

'Carbogen medical carbon dioxide and oxygen mixture Carbogen is a medical gas mixture of 5% medical carbon dioxide in medical oxygen (CO2/O2). Carbogen is used in a number of medical applications, administration is by mask or endotracheal tube.' ..found this information ..so once again the formula for cure turn deadly .Where .have all the trained personnel , nurses doctors all gone ?

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Dr. Ravi Hulugalle Sunday, 31 December 2023 04:07 AM

Must have been a Russian qualified doctor. They have difficulty in understanding basic human physiology.

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Ruwan Sunday, 31 December 2023 12:35 PM

Ravi, your comment has expelled all doubt I had of your ignorance......

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KP Sunday, 31 December 2023 06:59 PM

So according to you only Russian qualified doctors are responsible for all medical errors that happened in the country. Don’t make us laugh man. Trying to shift the blame. It’s more likely to be one of the chaps from local universities who can hardly read or write in English.

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Seedantha Kulatilake Monday, 01 January 2024 09:12 AM

Russia was the first to send a satellite(sputnik) into orbit. BEFORE America. Russia was the first to send a live animal into space. BEFORE America. Russia was the the first to send a man(Yuri Gagarin) into space and brought back alive. BEFORE America. BUT, BUT Russian qualified doctors do not know how to treat patients ! When Russians become ill, I guess they go to America for treatment !! This guy ravi hulugalle must be living in another universe. 'Bias' redefined.

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Keheliya Rambukwella Sunday, 31 December 2023 04:11 AM

Oxygen, carbon dioxide what is the difference? Both gasses noh?

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Oberver Sunday, 31 December 2023 04:28 PM

What about cooking gas? You get it in the hospital kitchen. Those all gasses could be stored in same store near to the kitchen or surgery room. Finally it the destiny of the patient which cylinder is the nearest. Nobody to be blamed in a country on another

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Sunil Sunday, 31 December 2023 04:14 AM

Please give employment and responsibility in high risk jobs to competent, experienced ,calm and alert people and also regularly test them and renew or cancel their licence. A complete, detailed investigation is required by independent persons.

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2 to 3 Layers of Safety Checks Required Sunday, 31 December 2023 05:14 PM

Truly agree

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ANTON Sunday, 31 December 2023 06:10 AM

EVEN A GRADE FIVE STUDENT KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO GASSES.

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Fernando Sunday, 31 December 2023 07:50 AM

It's a known fact that the government workers are a bunch of useless, unprofessional, arrogant, good for nothing rascals (especially hospital workers). Why not give them another pay rise to get more votes for the upcoming election?

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Roshan Bandarage Sunday, 31 December 2023 09:10 AM

As far as I know carbon dioxide is not a medical gas available at hospitals. The authenticity of the report may need a further review.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Sunday, 31 December 2023 10:04 AM

This trend continues, only few reported cases exposed, in rural areas every death is taken as normal.

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Sunil Sunday, 31 December 2023 10:15 AM

Carbon Dioxide is given in low doses before and after the operation as part of anaesthesia. Who was the Anaesthetist involved in the operation. Was his or her lack of experience and negligence because of poor training. Because specialists are migrating, the remaining may be poorly trained junior Anaesthetists.

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Sri Lankan medical culture is terrible Sunday, 31 December 2023 11:25 AM

There is so much about how capable Sri Lankan medical staff are, which is entirely true as soon as they work in Western Democratic country. However, same people here will somehow allow for frequent negligence. Fault is nature of the country. In proper democratic country people can speak up before things get worse, here that's culturally not allowed.

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Marisipala Sorrysena Sunday, 31 December 2023 12:00 PM

This is a one off case. All sirilankans breath CO2 and CO all the time. As long as there is something to breath sirilankans should be OK noh? No fault of the crappy witch doctors at the hospitals. Moreover one of the pohottu baias said nobody need oxygen at a parliamentary ispeeh. Pohottu baiyas are always right. Smart bunch of monkeys noh?

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Dee Sunday, 31 December 2023 12:12 PM

Sad story! What is even safer is reading the comments. Nothing about asking the minister / unelected president/ government to resign? Nothing about a ‘future NPP government will ….’ Are all the Shahodarayas celebrating the 67/- increase in petrol and diesel and waiting to increase their wheeler and bus fares?

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Gp Sunday, 31 December 2023 02:52 PM

They will come up with a story to say that there was Carbon Dioxide filled in a Oxygen cylinder....

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Mahila Monday, 01 January 2024 05:12 AM

Where and by Whom!!!??? And HOW? Probably, 'Sous Chef' may "Bite the Bullet" and believe it!!? Not MBBS qualified, even though not regular Practitioner!!!??? Nothing else, but Bad Administration – Supervision, Training of Operating Theatre, Procedural effectiveness of STAFF, who should be very vigilant, checking and rechecking continuously as per stated Procedural Manual!!!??? Lackadaisical, carefree style of staff!!!??? Life has no value, even for those taken the Hippocratic Oath (HO)!!!??? “HO – its original form, required new physician SWEAR, BY NUMBER OF HEALING GODS – to uphold SPECIFIC ETHICAL STANDARDS"!!!??? Probably, this MEDIC had NO belief in Greek Gods!!? Or, he may have entertained “SKEWED thoughts” to his faith and belief, as THE CELEBRANT from famous temple in Deep-South. Presently on Bail – for “BREACH OF TRUST” (BoT) which investigators claim cannot be proved as BoT!!!??? “VICISSITUDES’ OF MORTAL HUMANS”!!!???

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Ron Sunday, 31 December 2023 03:51 PM

Specialy government hospitals poor procedures poor administration poor quality staff training along with poor quality unprofessionals that take responsibility can cause Risk for patients Hospitals should have experience fully qulified doctors and administration along with staff who work with patients specially whiting critical area's that need professional care must be a priority this kind of mistake never should happen ..very sad RIP.

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Gune Sunday, 31 December 2023 05:20 PM

Is it fair by the patient and the family to disclose the name and medical reason for the operation. Common Sri Lanka can be better than this.

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Medic Sunday, 31 December 2023 07:51 PM

The minister should resign.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Sunday, 31 December 2023 08:54 PM

This is disturbing news, how many thousand would have passed off in similar circumstances, even my father was admitted to Ratnapura teaching hospital in mid sixties, he was given an overdose of morphine, to which he succumbed, the family of ten children had to undergo immense difficulties.

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