Saudi Gazette report BURAIDAH – A three-month old baby died after 10 days at Buraidah Maternity and Children's Hospital's emergency unit due to a misdiagnosis, Al-Sharq daily reported Wednesday. His father Saud Al-Rashidi told the newspaper that his baby was hospitalized for 10 days in the emergency unit and was given two antibiotics, Gentamycin and Vancomycin, by the doctor on duty, but his condition did not improve. The consultant on duty told the doctor over the phone to give him Phenotein, an anti-epileptic drug. He added: “Once my little baby was given this drug, his condition deteriorated. He developed renal failure and skin dryness while his liver and spleen became swollen.” The infant did not suffer from any hereditary diseases according to his father, who said the child developed these medical conditions due to the drugs administered to him. The father requested the hospital to transfer the infant to King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh a day before his death, but the hospital did not complete the referral procedures. He urged the government to take action, adding that he believed the hospital was responsible for his son's death. The infant's uncle, who is a pharmacist, said he saw the doctor giving the child the anti-epileptic drug even though he did not need it. He said: “When I asked the doctor why he gave him this drug, he said he knew what he was doing. “Four antibiotics were given to the baby in a matter of six hours. “He was also administered Vancomycin although he didn't have any respiratory disorders.” The uncle questioned why the baby was given all these drugs without blood tests. He also questioned why the medical records, which the infant's father requested from the hospital one day before his death, failed to mention that the infant was given antibiotics and the anti-epileptic drug. A spokesman for Al-Qassim Health Affairs said the infant was admitted to the hospital due to a fever. During examinations the infant had a seizure and was transferred to the ICU, he said. Medical investigations showed that he developed hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, high blood acidity and pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart). He said: “When we looked into the family's medical history, we found that both parents had a baby who died suffering from the same symptoms in the past. Doctors were suspicious that the infant had a metabolic disease that leads to death in most cases.”
