Negligence by hospital alleged in knee surgery

A surgical inpatient is levelling complaints against a private hospital in Dubai, claiming that the medical treatment she received has severely hampered her mobility. The hospital says it is looking into the matter. Arpana, the 37-year-old patient, has filed a complaint with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). She told Gulf News that she went to the Emirates Hospital due to pain in the right knee early last year. Following MRI scan, it was diagnosed to be due to meniscus tear, a condition caused by rupturing of one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee. She said, “I was advised an arthroscopy [minimally invasive surgical procedure]. Even after four months of the surgery, the pain persisted and increased. I took a second opinion in India and through another centre in Dubai; the MRI scan concluded that during arthroscopy wrong tools were used, causing irreparable damage to the cartilage.” She said that the pain prevents her from leading a productive life. “My life has been greatly affected by the hospital’s negligence. I cannot run, stand for long hours, walk briskly, or climb stairs with ease. I am forced to wear only flat shoes or trainers. I have sleepless nights due to the acute pain. I go for regular HA injections (Hyaluronic acid) in my right knee at an orthopaedic centre, so that my knee bones don’t rub against each other and cause further damage,” she said. Arpana added that she approached the DHA to get justice and hopes that the hospital will be held accountable. Gulf News contacted the DHA and the hospital for statements in the context of Arpana’s complaint. Dr. Layla Mohammad Al Marzouqi, Head of Clinical Governance Office of the DHA Health Regulation Department said, “We have been in touch the patient. We are now in the process of investigating the complaint. All patients who are dissatisfied in any way with the medical services in the public or private sector, have a right to complain, and we look into these cases in a fair and transparent manner.” A spokesperson from the Emirates Hospital said, “The third party administrator (TPA) of Arpana’s medical insurer previously had raised the concern about her post-operative medical condition and obtained the medical reports in September 2011 from Emirates Hospital to evaluate the case. The case was reviewed by our orthopaedic surgeons and it was observed that the post-operative MRI of the patient was inconclusive and did not confirm any surgical error." “The opinions provided by Mrs Arpana’s other physicians were also not conclusive. Hence we suggested to her administrators to have an impartial opinion of the case by neutral orthopaedic surgeons in town. Unfortunately since then we did not hear any news neither from the patient nor from her insurance company or its medical administrator company,” the spokesperson said.