Poor diagnosis at New Amsterdam leads to woman’s death

A family from Number 19 Village, East Coast Berbice, is up in arms against the treatment meted out to their relative at the New Amsterdam Hospital leading to the woman’s death. They are calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the works of the New Amsterdam Hospital and for a revamp of the entire health system.
The woman, Womatie Shivpersaud, 50, a mother of two, died at her home from a ruptured appendix. She was never treated for any of those conditions.
The family said that when the woman was rushed to the hospital she was sent away the same night.
A close relative said that the woman took ill on September 26 around 19:00hrs and was rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital complaining of severe stomach pains and experiencing bouts of vomiting.
The relative said that their horror story began when they arrived at the hospital. Despite feeling severe pain, the woman had to wait for more than two hours. They said that they were roughed up by the security guard who told them they have to wait their turn.
When they eventually saw a doctor, they were told that they will have to get an X ray laboratory test. In the interim saline drips were ordered. They were told to wait outside. After a further two hours wait they decide to enquire about the situation and were told that the woman was receiving saline and that when that was finished she would be sent home. All other queries went unanswered.
They were given a prescription to collect some medication the next day and the woman was sent home after midnight, despite complaining of feeling severe pain.
On Monday, the medication was uplifted and given to her. She continued to complain of pains.
The relative said that the woman went to bed and died around 02:00 hours Tuesday morning.
A post mortem gave the woman’s death as due to a ruptured appendix. The family said despite the woman being taken to hospital she was never diagnosed with appendicitis.
“If she was diagnosed properly she could have been treated and alive today’ they said. “It’s pure negligence and don’t care damn business going on at the hospital, especially the New Amsterdam Hospital,” the relatives said.
They are calling for a thorough investigation into what took place on the night that Shivpersaud was taken to hospital. They want to know why she wasn’t admitted and why wasn’t she diagnosed properly.
They are seeking legal advice and are prepared to go all the way to get justice.