Maputo, 11 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican Order of Doctors, the professional body to which all the country’s doctors are obliged to belong, has promised to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the reasons that led health professionals to leave a piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen.
The piece of cloth, which bears an inscription from the Maputo Military Hospital, was removed from a patient’s abdomen during surgery at a South African hospital. The case, which went viral on social media with a four-minute video, denounces the serious medical error committed by health professionals.
According to Gilberto Manhiça, chairperson of the Order of Doctors, this was an abnormal case that may have taken place in “extreme circumstances” but must be investigated.
“A commission of enquiry will be set up to investigate the case, but for now the patient needs his family’s support. The normal protocol for all objects entering the operating theatre is to check them on entry and exit, which reduces speculation about a possible medical error”, he said, cited by the independent daily “O País.”
“The cloth may have been used as the only alternative to stop the bleeding”, he added.
In a statement, the Maputo Military Hospital acknowledged the seriousness of the case, and said that the cloth had apparently been inside the patient’s body since 2021.
“The Maputo Military Hospital recognizes the seriousness of what happened and deeply regrets it. A multi-sector commission has been set up to investigate what happened and we kindly ask that the victim and his relatives approach the hospital to provide relevant information about the facts,” reads the statement.
The Hospital promises to hold accountable those professionals who committed the offence, “if it is found that there was negligence.”
“This measure is aimed at avoiding similar cases in the future. We therefore call on all citizens and institutions that have additional and specific information about this or similar cases to contact the Mozambique Medical Association to provide information that will help clarify what happened and help support any victims”, says the note.
(AIM)
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