JAZAN — A female university student went into a coma at Jazan General Hospital as a result of wrong medication. This the third reported life-threatening malpractice event in Jazan General Hospital within a month. Earlier, a child named Hanan died due to a contaminated blood transfusion. Another child, Reham, received blood from a donor who was HIV positive. In the latest case, Mohammad Abu Bakr said his daughter Fatimah was taken to the hospital after complaining of high fever and a sore throat. She was admitted to the emergency unit and remained there from Thursday until Saturday morning, where she was administered several drugs. Her family was surprised two days later when a doctor began to revive her heart and extract water from her lungs. The doctor told them that she was in critical condition due to the high fever and low oxygen. She was then transferred to the intensive care unit in a coma with a respirator attached to her. Her father asked to transfer her to a private hospital, but claims that the hospital dministration refused due to her critical condition. Spokesman of Jazan Health Affairs Directorate, Mohammad Al-Semaili said that the directorate will communicate with Jazan hospital to inquire about the case. A few weeks ago, 13-year-old Reham Al-Hamaki received blood from a donor who was HIV positive at Jazan General Hospital. The technician who conducted the blood transfusion procedures was sacked later together with a number of the Ministry of Health officials. Reham was airlifted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research in Center in Riyadh, where he is currently receiving full care and may be sent abroad in a few weeks for treatment from AIDS. Reham has been suffering from sickle cell anemia since her childhood. The Ministry of Health's assistant undersecretary for medical services announced a few days ago that the ministry is working on new requirements and bylaws for medical laboratories and blood banks to reduce incidents of medical errors.
