Medics implicated in death of pregnant woman arrested

Two doctors, an anaesthetist and a midwife at Rwinkwavu Hospital in Kayonza District, who were recently suspended following the death of an expectant mother at the facility, have been arrested. The Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, ordered a probe into the conduct of the four medical officials following complaints that they disregarded procedure and clinical guidelines during the operation carried out weeks ago. Aloysie Nikuze Umulisa, 30, had a caesarean section at the hospital, but bled to death hours later.The baby was, however, successfully delivered and is still alive. Police Spokesman Celestin Twahirwa said the quartet was arrested on Wednesday as investigations continue.They are being held at Kabarondo Police Station, where they will be interrogated pending formal charges, Twahirwa added. “Their alleged negligence that led to death of the mother cannot be taken lightly. If the medics were grossly negligent and the patient died as a result, they would be charged with involuntary manslaughter,” he said. During the operation on the deceased, sources said electricity went off, a situation said to have led to the death of the mother. Dr Fulgence Nyikabahizi, the medical director, said the hospital remained committed to see people receive proper services. “Doctors, like other professionals, are expected to do their duties diligently. If they neglect to do so and their patients are harmed they can expect to be criticised or be prosecuted. There is no tolerance of poor service delivery; any negligence, let alone one that leads to death, will be dealt with accordingly,” he said. Dr Nyikabahizi assured the public that the arrests of the medics would not paralyse the operations of the hospital. “Of course, we are not happy that some of our colleagues are in the mess, but we can assure our patients that we shall continue serving them,” Dr Nyikabahizi said. “We have a number of options as some doctors who have been serving outside the hospital have already been recalled to take up the duties of those in detention.” editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Medics implicated in death of pregnant woman arrested