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{
    "id": 787151,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/787151/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 137,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": "very concerned with the mix-up whereby the life of a Mr. Samuel Kimani Wachira and that of Mr. John Nderitu Mbugua were put to risk. If you look at the Report, you will find that although a Committee of the House sits with a similar mandate as the High Court of Kenya in terms summoning witnesses, the presentation of a Report is akin to a judgement of a court. You will realise that the House has proposed that these two gentlemen be sufficiently compensated. This is a very unique case in the world. In fact, I do not think there has been such a thing before. We learn that the patient who had a blood clot in his head delayed in getting treatment and is still recovering. In fact, he has not recovered his memory at all. The events leading to the mix-up are such that there may have been negligence although we appreciate that the hospital is overloaded, and there is a lot of activity there. It is a national referral hospital. In fact, on the good side of it, it has some of the best and most experienced doctors you can ever find in Kenya. However, the structures supporting the doctors’ operations at times frustrate them. The fact that a mix-up of surgery could happen, it means a lot of things could have happened, including patients being given wrong blood groups. The reason as to why there was a mix-up, and why labelling of the patients was not done, is that the patients were supposed to respond when their names were called out. Some patients may not be likely to speak when called. Somebody who is unwell may even think a different name is being called. Also, people share similar names. You may find people will have exactly similar names. Only their ID card numbers may differentiate those particular persons. The system of labelling and identification of patients has to be deeper so that such an occurrence does not happen again. It is very close to death and very risky yet the purpose of medicine and hospital is to save life. Negligence of that nature is very serious. In fact, for medical staff or medical practitioners, it is very difficult to prove a case of negligence against them. First of all, the evidence has to come from fellow colleagues with similar qualifications. Secondly, they may not be willing to victimise each other. Thirdly, doctors work with utmost good faith. Their Hippocratic Oath is such that they have to be committed to save life, and that all materials and time is there to save the lives of people they know and people they do not know, and people they like and people they may not like. Therefore, on that particular mix-up, the hospital has to come up with a system whereby identification of patients is key. In fact, it can become electronic such that on the patients’ labelling, there is something which further confirms because names can be similar or someone can think another person’s name has been called out and ends up with that particular mix-up. As I said, it is very risky, in terms of most patients going through operations and having to be given extra blood. Blood group mix-up itself may mean a lot; it may be detrimental to the patient. I thought I should dwell on that particular issue. How then will you compensate such a patient? I am saying this is a very unique case. It may not have happened again or reported anywhere in the world. We may have to come up with a mechanism to assist its lawyers to gauge what could be a reasonable compensation. Because these patients are recovering, it means the compensation has to be availed quickly so that it does not take forever for these patients to be compensated. I urge Members to support this Report and I am sure they will so that there is a shortcut to justice for this particular patient. More importantly, there should be prevention in the future. How do we make sure this does not happen again? We are in the process of expanding the referral hospitals in the counties and a budget has been allocated towards the same. Those mistakes are also happening in many other Level 5 referral hospitals. What is the future of those hospitals if patients are suffering quietly? How can we make hospital mechanisms and operations The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}