Abdullah Al-Yousef Okaz/Saudi Gazette BURAIDAH — Rama Al-Mehaimeed, a five-year-old girl who was mistakenly subjected to chemotherapy treatment at a tumor center in Qassim, has been sent to the US for treatment. The gross medical mistake at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Buraidah was caused by a mix-up of names at the laboratory. The test results of a child named Rami was sent to the doctor treating Rama due to the similarity in names. Rama was transferred to King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Riyadh for treatment after the error was discovered. She remained at the hospital for some time and a royal directive was issued to send her to the US for advanced treatment. Upon arrival in the US, Rama's father took her to a specialist hospital where a doctor carefully reviewed her medical report. Abdullah Al-Mehaimeed, Rama's father, said the doctor was surprised the girl still had a catheter fixed to her hand and asked her support team to sterilize the catheter spot. The father said Rama had high temperature and the doctor prescribed antibiotics. According to Rama's father, the doctor who reviewed Rama's file said the KFSH did not send them her full medical records, including the primary sample, and instructed her aides contact the Riyadh hospital. The doctor is waiting for a response from the Riyadh KFSH to determine the course of treatment. Al-Mehaimeed said that Rama was still apprehensive of doctors. He pointed out that the medical committee which was formed to investigate the case has held King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Buraidah accountable for 70 percent of the mistake.
