A private hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has been found responsible for causing the death of a woman in labour, according to Saudi Gazette.
Tahani Khayat bled to death during labour. Her husband Emad Esmat has blamed negligent medical staff and filed a complaint to the Makkah department of health.
In return, the hospital is suing Esmat for $240,000 worth of damages. The hospital claims he vandalised his wife’s hospital room, destroyed equipment and physically assaulted a female doctor, the newspaper said.
Esmat’s complaint was investigated by a committee made up of experts in law and medicine, two experienced doctors and a pharmacist, all appointed by the ministries of health, higher education and justice, the daily reported.
Lawyer Bandar Al Salamah, acting on behalf of Esmat, said the committee found the hospital guilty of causing Khayat’s death due to a medical error.
“The directorate found the administration of the hospital and the three doctors of childbirth and women’s health, who were treating the victim, to be guilty of her death,” he was quoted as saying.
One of the doctors involved in her case also was found to be unlicensed to work at the hospital.
“The hospital has not transferred the sponsorship of one of the expatriate doctors. The hospital has also not renewed its license and had manipulated and forged many official documents,” Al Salamah said.
Esmat has demanded blood money – typically awarded in Saudi Arabia to relatives of murder or manslaughter victims.
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