TZ: Surgery mix-up, man dies

[Jonny]

Tanzania surgery mix-up man dies

The Tanzanian man who had a knee operation when he had a tumour in his brain, has died after finally having the operation he required.
Emmanuel Mgaya, 19, died hours after the surgery, performed two weeks late.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Didas, 20, who had brain surgery although his complaint was in the knee, is slowly recovering but he remains partially paralysed.

The government has apologised for the mix-up, which has been blamed on both men having the same first name.

Mr Didas cannot move his right side following the unnecessary operation.

He told the BBC in hospital that he was able to eat his favourite food again - maize meal with fish and vegetables.

Health Minister David Mwakyusa said a commission has been set up to investigate the saga and pledged to send Mr Didas to India for specialised treatment.

He originally hurt his leg in a motorbike accident.

No lawsuit

Mr Mgaya was also due to have treatment in India but died before this was possible.

He spent four days at the Muhimbili hospital's intensive care unit Dar es Salaam but his condition got worse on Thursday.

He was operated on but died several hours later.

His family say they are not planning to sue the government - they always knew he only had a 50% chance of survival, as the tumour had grown so large.

He first sought medical treatment, complaining of migraines.

But they have urged the health ministry to employ qualified and compassionate medical staff.

---------------------

If you wish to voice your concerns/questions directly to the Ministry of health you may contact:

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
P.O.Box:9083
Tel:+255-22-2120261/7
Fax:+255-22-2139951
Email: moh@moh.go.tz
Dar es Salaam - Tanzania

----------------------

Source -BBC

 

_________________
Opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

[fillar munuo]

this is what troubles me.The only thing that they had the same is the first name.Is it the only thing they look at before the operate someone?It is scaring because Emanuel is a very common name so they could have looked on more other info before operating someone.Anyways who knows what goes around after they have you in sleeping peels you can't even testify anything.Hope the survivor will recover soon.What a tragedy1

[Mkakati]

Fillar you are correct. they having the first name should not be an excuse for their stupidity. So they don't communicate witt their patient or read patient chart? Huu ni ubumbavu wa hali ya juu kabisa.

 

_________________
"A brain is a terrible thing to waste."