A medical error at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Buraidah in the Qassim Region on Monday, has caused the death of 24-year-old Nada Ibrahim Al-Thuwaini. This was during surgery to remove her gallbladder. The doctor who performed the operation has admitted his mistake in “cutting the woman's aorta while removing the catheter used in the operation.” Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, Emir of Al-Qassim Region, has ordered that a committee be set up to investigate the young woman's death and punish the person responsible. He expressed concern for the state of Nada's family. In a statement, the Directorate of Health Affairs in the Al-Qassim Region emphasized that it would take action against the doctor who treated the young woman. The directorate confirmed it had formed a special committee to investigate the case and to prepare medical reports on the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. This will be referred to a Shariah committee, supervised by a Shariah judge and specialist Saudi doctors. The statement said Nada was admitted to the hospital suffering from gallstones. She was then taken to the operating theater to remove her gallbladder using a catheter. During the operation, part of the aorta was cut, causing internal bleeding. At this point, the consultant vascular surgeon in the hospital was summoned to help control and stop the bleeding, which had caused a drop in blood pressure. The woman was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she subsequently died. Nada's distraught father said they buried her Monday afternoon. Muhammad Al-Thuwaini, Nada's brother, said the doctor who conducted the operation admitted his mistake to the family. He said she had graduated from university several months ago and was waiting to be employed. Nada's father said the mistakes in Nada's treatment began when she was admitted to hospital. He said there was no blood in the blood bank. This had forced her brother to donate blood before the operation was conducted. Also, the Radiology Department lost Nada's imagery, so another was taken. “After Nada's death we went to the Director of Health Affairs in the region, who accompanied us to the hospital and summoned the doctor who had conducted the operation. The doctor admitted to us that he had committed the medical error,” said Al-Thuwaini. At the same hospital less than two weeks ago, an 18-month old girl died after she was given tranquilizer injections. She was supposed to have an X
