Health C.E.O. Gives Update on WRH Investigations

Ramon Figueroa

In September, the tragic deaths of two females hung like a dark cloud over the Western Regional Hospital. Lucia Cal and Nolberta Sanchez were both treated at that facility and both died amid allegations of criminal negligence by medical personnel. An investigation was started in September, and today we asked Health C.E.O., Doctor Ramon Figueroa for an update.

Dr. Ramon Figueroa, C.E.O., Ministry of Health

“I know we had a peer review case with the persons that were involved. I know in one particular case and I don’t want to mention names because I am not sure which one you’re referring to – in one particular case the failure was in having the individual come early enough and that the diagnosis was not made early enough at the primary care setting. In the other case which was hypovolemic shock and haemorrhage I believe, we have presented this particular case to the Medical Council. We’ve done the investigation, we’ve done the report and I had presented it at the last meeting that I attended as the Director of Health Services at that time. I had presented the case to the Medical Council at that time for them to consider it. They reviewed it and said that they needed some more information to be included, which we gathered and prepared and at this last meeting the Director of Health Services presented that case for consideration. That’s where we are with it. I also understand though that there’s a probably legal case by the family and so those are two separate processes that are being undertaken. One of the things that I must say that’s difficult is how to manoeuvre within the Public Service. It’s a difficult process, it’s a learning process and that places some restraints on how quickly and how fast you can move in finding a resolution to these particular cases. But we have investigated. I cannot comment on the content of the case. We have presented to the Medical Council because we believe there is a case for us in the Medical Council to address certain issues of care. That’s where we are right now.”