JEDDAH — A Saudi woman has accused a hospital of infecting her with hepatitis during a surgical operation. The woman had a stomach operation during which she claims that she was infected with the disease. The woman, a diabetic, said she had cholecystitis. Doctors at King Abdulaziz Hospital advised her that she needed surgery to remove stones in her gallbladder. Due to the high cost, she had the operation at the government-run King Fahd Hospital. Shortly after the operation, she began suffering from urinary retention. She was admitted to the emergency unit of the same hospital and underwent a gastric surgery. After the operation, she said she discovered that doctors had removed her uterus and that she was also infected with hepatitis. She complained to the Jeddah Health Affairs, asking for an investigation and compensation. However, the case is still under review. Director of Jeddah Health Affairs Dr. Sami Badawood denied the woman's accusations. He said he personally coordinated with King Abdulaziz Hospital to transfer her to King Fahd Hospital for the surgery. Both surgeries were conducted according to medical procedures, he added, and there were no complications. He said she was previously infected with hepatitis and was currently receiving treatment at King Saud Hospital. He said her file has all these details and is available for review.
