Family sues hospital over woman's death

The family of a 27-year-old mother, who died after weight-loss surgery at a Sharjah hospital, has filed a negligence case against the health care facility. The Sharjah public prosecution has ordered the hospital to send the medical report and records related to Samah Mustafa who died on January 26. “ My daughter submitted to the surgery and 60 per cent of her stomach was cut out ” Samah's mother Prosecutors say they also want to speak with those in the medical team involved in the surgery. Officials at Al Qasimi Hospital told Gulf News on Thursday that the hospital administration warned the deceased patient that the surgery posed a risk to her life because her weight was under the suggested weight for performing the surgery. Despite the medical advice, the hospital said the woman insisted the surgery be performed and that her family signed a legal document to hold responsibility. Neither the hospital's position nor the negligence claims have been vetted in court. Files Officials, meanwhile, said they will provide the public prosecution with the file and medical reports of the deceased. The medical staff will also be asked to recount surgical details leading up to the woman's death. In a previous interview, Dr Abdul Wahaid Mohammad Al Wahdawi, deputy technical director at Al Qasimi Hospital, said Samah was advised about the side-effects of the surgery and she had accepted this. "She had agreed to allow a French visiting doctor to do the operation. A few days after the operation, she suffered some complications and had to be operated upon again. Al Qasimi Hospital arranged with Al Mafraq Hospital for the transfer." Samah's mother filed a case against the hospital on April 7 in Al Gharb police station and on May 7 public prosecutors initiated proceedings against Al Qasimi Hospital. Mustafa, a mother of three, had been suffering from knee and back pain for two years. She consulted doctors at Al Qasimi Hospital and they advised her to lose weight. "My daughter submitted to the surgery and 60 per cent of her stomach was cut out," the mother said. Samah's mother said her daughter, who weighed 96kg, was advised by doctors to reduce her weight through stomach surgery. Complications reportedly set in and there was apparent bleeding in her stomach. "Doctors had to operate again to control the situation," the mother said. She added that her daughter had to be taken to Al Mafraq Hospital, but unfortunately her condition got worse. "My daughter could not eat or drink. She weighed 40kg when she died," she said.