Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — A Saudi woman had to have her lung removed after contracting a virus at Madinah's King Fahd Hospital following a hysterectomy, according to her family. Saliha Al-Jehani's brother Saud told Al-Watan daily that the hospital was “careless and disrespectful” and responsible for the condition his sister was now in. He said: “My sister was undergoing a Cesarean at the Madinah Maternity and Children's Hospital. “The doctors told us she had to undergo a hysterectomy as it was her fourth Cesarean delivery. “After the operation, she went into a coma so we had to transfer her to King Fahd Hospital 15 days later.” He added his sister already had asthma and was put in the internal medicine ward where there were other patients with chronic diseases. “My sister's weak body contracted a virus in the chest and her left lung stopped working altogether. Before she was admitted into the room, her X-rays show that her lungs were absolutely fine. “The doctors decided to remove her left lung without consulting an expert.” He added that only the intensive care consultant and neurological consultant checked up on her. “They never talked to a consultant on chest illnesses. I even requested four months ago to have a gastronomical medicine specialist check up on her but the hospital was not cooperative. “It is their fault she contracted the virus from the first place. They were careless when allocating a room for her.” He said she was first admitted into an isolated room but staff then moved her out, claiming they needed to sterilize her. “I found out later that a doctor in the hospital was poisoned so they emptied my sister's room for him. “They moved her from room to room several times and eventually put her in a room with three other male patients. “They did not respect her privacy and wouldn't even draw the curtains, saying this would obscure their view of her.” He took his sister out of King Fahd Hospital and put her in a private hospital. “It's been five months now and my sister is still in a coma and her health is only getting worse. “I filed complaints to Madinah Health Affairs, Madinah Municipality, and the hospital itself.” Madinah Health Affairs Director Abdullah Al-Taifi said the directorate does value patients' rights but patients would not be isolated unless their condition requires it. He said: “In the intensive care units, there is no separation between men and women. All of the patients are in a coma and no visitors are allowed as they are in critical conditions.” He added that Al-Jehani was treated according to procedure. “She was first admitted to an isolated room for two months. Once her condition began to improve the hospital moved her to the intensive care unit where visitors are not allowed.”
