The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is being sued for allegedly causing the deaths of Sumattie Singh and her infant son by virtue of purported negligence.
The action against the hospital was filed by Ram Sankar, administrator ad litem of Singh's estate. According to the endorsement of claim, damages in excess of $50,000 are being sought for each of the following: "negligence by the defendants, its servants and/or agents which resulted in the death of Sumattie Singh on September 22, 2003 at the GPHC; damages under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap:6:02 and the Accidental Death and Workman Compensation Act ....by negligence which resulted in [Singh's] death and the death of her male issue on September 25; for negligence which resulted in the death of the male issue of Singh at the GPHC and for a breach of statutory duty to operate an effective and proper curative and disease management service, a duty which was owed to Singh..." .
It is alleged in the corresponding statement of claim that a pregnant Singh was taken to the GPHC and admitted to the Maternity Ward after being made to climb more than 25 stairs without assistance from anyone.
Approximately two hours after being taken to the labour room, the statement continues, Singh delivered a healthy baby boy who died four days later allegedly as a result of negligence. Additionally, the statement says, Singh died two days later.
In the particulars of breach of duty of care and its statutory duty of care, it is claimed that the defendant failed to ensure that its servants and/or agents meted out careful treatment to the deceased, further that the servants and/or agents were neither suitable nor competent and that the defendant did not ensure that its servants and/or agents who attended to the deceased were adequately directed and supervised.
It also alleged that the defendant had breached the professional standard of care owed Singh and her infant son and had failed to ensure Singh was in a fit medical state to have a normal delivery and had compelled her to endure physical exertion in breach of standard and proper medical procedure consistent with the Singh's medical condition at the time. Consequently, Singh had collapsed and died. In the case of her infant son, he had allegedly been left unattended without proper medical and post-natal care for several hours which resulted in his death.
After a review of the case by the Medical Council of Guyana (MCG) the hospital announced the two nursing staff at the centre of the investigation would be sent "warning" letters and that their performance would now be closely monitored and evaluated in the future.