MoH Will Not Comment on Nolberta Sanchez Investigation
Nolberta Sanchez
Nolberta Sanchez died at the K.H.M.H. on September tenth after undergoing surgery several hours earlier in Belmopan, where she gave birth to a child via caesarian section. When doctors at the Western Regional Hospital were unable to stem the hemorrhaging, they transferred the mother of four to Belize City. Sadly, the prolonged ordeal came to a heartbreaking end when Sanchez passed away while undergoing emergency treatment at the facility. Since her death two weeks ago, the family has indicated that legal action will be taken against the Government of Belize for medical malpractice. This morning, we asked CEO in the Ministry of Health, Doctor Peter Allen, for an update on the ongoing investigation.
Dr. Peter Allen
Dr. Peter Allen
“I do know that the investigation is ongoing. I have had an initial report but I can only really echo the comments of the Director of Health Services when he says that we understand that this will be an issue that involves litigation and the Office of the Solicitor General in the Attorney General’s ministry always advises us in these situations not to comment on such sensitive subjects. So with due respect I’m just not in a position to comment.”
Isani Cayetano
“I understand as well that the ministry has posted details of the equipment that were stolen from the Corozal facility on Belize Buy and Sell in an effort to try to either raise awareness or get people to familiarize themselves with the equipment that’s at large. Can you give us an update as to what’s taking place with that effort?”
Dr. Peter Allen
“It’s really a shame, we would say, that such a thing can happen. This is an electrosurgical unit so essentially it’s something like an electrical scalpel. It has a value of about twenty-six thousand dollars and clearly the number of people who have use for a surgical scalpel is extremely limited. So our hope is that those very few people who may be interested in procuring a surgical scalpel that has been stolen from a public hospital would be interested enough and patriotic enough to report that matter to the authorities.”
