Seven doctors face charges over two-year-old girl's death
Seven doctors were this morning charged with the involuntary homicide of a two- year-old-girl, Aimee Abela, through negligence and misdiagnosis, at Mater Dei Hospital two years ago. All pleaded not guilty to the single charge.
Lawyers Michael Sciriha and Joe Giglio asked the court to ban the publication of their names. Dr Giglio said that the proceedings should be heard behind closed doors. There was a whole ward in the dock he exclaimed.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appearing for the victims' family, objected to the request.
Dr Giglio said that once taken to court, people were condemned by public perception.
Dr Azzopardi interjected, saying that the fact that there was a ban would make the matter worse because the whole hospital would be blamed.
Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona agreed to a ban on the names.
VITAL TEST NOT MADE
Court-appointed expert Forensic Pathologist Mario Scerri testified that during a magisterial inquiry he examined the dead body and presented a report after also speaking to witnesses.
He said that the girl died from meningitis. This was a case of a child who, in February two years ago, had been vomiting and was given voltaren and taken to St James. She was examined, given medication, and taken home.
On the next day she still had a temperature and a doctor, one of the accused, recommended that she take motilium.
Later she was taken to Mater Dei Hospital.
The girl was alert when she was taken to Mater Dei. There was evidence she had a bacterial infection but for some reason her urine sample was not taken to the lab for analysis, Dr Scerri said.Nor was she given antibiotics at that time.
Her mother called the same doctor, who also worked at Mater Dei, and he said that he was at children's outpatients and could not see her.
The mother called again after a few hours and insisted that he see her.
She spoke to her own doctor, and he told her that there was a bacterial infection. When she relayed the information to the doctor at Mater Dei, he told her that it was for him to decide and not someone else.
The girl later died and an autopsy was ordered.
Dr Scerri said it was established that bacterial meningitis caused the death.
Dr Scerri said that when called to testify before him during the magisterial inquiry several of the accused exercised their right to silence.
He regretted that none of the doctors had performed a septic screen test on the young patient.
In one of the entries in the medical records, one of the doctors said that the child looked miserable. Later he said 'very miserable' and 'extremely miserable'.
And yet nobody picked up on the fact that there was a bacterial infection.
Replying to questions, Dr Scerri said that in this type of bacterial infection one could have full blown presentation of symptoms or no symptom,s but one did not go with presentation only.
Taking the witness stand, microbiologist Chris Barbara, chairman of the pathology department said blood tests were carried out on the child. It resulted that her white blood cells were elevated but that could mean that there was a inflammation or an infection or both. These results are done in real time. The results were uploaded online but other tests were not requested.
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118 Comments
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Joe Xuereb
Mar 1st, 03:19
Not only in Malta it seems.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2286045/Coroner-criticises-box-ticking-culture-doctors-rules-inquest-seven-week-old-baby-died-pneumonia.html
I hope this offers some healing to the distraught parents.
This has always happened and will continue to. Punishing malpractice does not guarantee the cessation of this sad fact of life. Alas, good/bad luck of the draw.
josephine CACHIA
Feb 28th, 09:03
Nahdem fi spizerija ,xi jiem wara il kas giet omm b tifla sintomi simili ta Aimee,jien kont ghadni mkexkxa bli gara lil Aimee u lil omm werwirta ftit,edtilha biex tishaq mat tobba biex jiccekjaw ghal Meningitis..Xi jiem wara l Omm giet u rringrazzjat lili semplici Pharm Tech ...t tifla kellha meningitis.u li kien ghat Tobba regu ma sarux testijiet.. ..DAN SEW??
Vincent Mercieca
Feb 28th, 07:20
zball ta' tabib dejjem indifen taht 6 pidi trab
S Grima
Feb 28th, 06:42
Staqsi lil imgarrab kemm jiswa zball ta' tabib!
Joseph Borg
Feb 28th, 02:55
Dear all, having read this and possibly a few other articles certainly does not make us experts neither on the matter nor regarding this 'incident'. How can one comment on such a case? Wouldn't it be better if one waits until the case is decided in court?
Joe Xuereb
Feb 28th, 01:58
@Claire Busuttil(Yesterday, 16:07). Quote: 'he told her that it was for him to decide and not...'. Professionals anywhere often behave like they were gods. More so in Malta, and especially if they happen to be medical doctors or lawyers.That's why in Malta many of these become MPs.
My sympathy to the parents. The 'wound/pain' will diminish but will never completely disappear. Nor should it.
G Grima
Feb 27th, 23:32
There by the grace of God goes I believe justice has to be allowed to take its course and turning this unfortunate death into a political game will help no one, not the doctors, not the family and neither future patients.
Chris Farrugia
Feb 27th, 22:41
A quick look at the comments below reminds me what a good idea it was to leave to Australia.
Peter Murray
Feb 28th, 11:04
Australia is Nirvana then is it Chris?I think this country has more than fair of problems and injustices to deal with and even more now than when I left in 1992.
Joseph Mizzi
Feb 27th, 22:19
I am saddened by some of the comments.
The death of a child is a tragedy beyond description. My sympathy to the parents who lost their child.
But those who are calling for 'name and shame' are assuming that the Doctors involved were criminally negligent in their work. They are assumed to be guilty until proved otherwise! That is so unfair! Let the court do it's work and may justice prevail.
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 27th, 21:42
2.
Have carried our baby within us for nine months, and we KNOW when our child is not well...If only you had listened to this poor mother.....If only.........Aimee may still be here today!! All that was needed was a spinal tap for christ sake and the diagnosis would have been made!! RIP dear Aimee.......
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 27th, 21:39
1.
The UK meningitis Trust have a site online that distinctly states that listening to your gut instinct is a necessity in the race to save a life in bacterial meningitis....Time is of an essence in this dreadful fatal disease. But this poor child and her parents were treated in the most appalling manner. Please listen to the mothers doctors!!! We may not be medical professionals,
Vincent Rapa
Feb 27th, 20:13
I wonder whether the national Medical Council has investigated the case. It is very unfortunate for little Aimee and her family. In our case, 4 week old daughter was given paracetamol and left over 48 hours without medication to treat bacterial meningitis. The result? A severe brain atrophy. Where is the protection for vulnerable people?
Giov DeMartino
Feb 27th, 19:42
Imbaghad jghidu li Malta neqsin mit-tobba!
twanny borg
Feb 27th, 18:54
Zija tieghi kienet mardet u t-tabib kien ordna lin-nanniet tieghi biex ihalluha bil-guh meta llum l-istess marda bil-kontra trid tiekol. Inghalqilha l-istonku u mietet fil-16-06-1946 ta' 19-il sena. xi darba irrid nghid l-istorja kollha. Lill-gharus kienet qaltlu mur sib ohra ghax jien ser immut. Indifnet b'hadd mill-familja prezenti u din il-gimgha kont jien biss li mort u sibt fejn indifnet.
oliver mallia
Feb 27th, 19:35
Storja interesanti Mr Borg wara dan iz-zmien kollu. Ipublika fuq it-Times of Mal
ta
Victor Pulis
Feb 27th, 18:34
The doctors are not being accused of failing to save the little girl's life. They are being accused of negligence and misdiagnosis which is a totally different thing.
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 20:22
Misdiagnosis is NOT a crime!!!
Frank Muscat
Feb 27th, 18:27
What's the big deal? The names of the seven doctors were published in the issue of The Times, Tuesday, February 26, 2013 (page 3). Why the ban?
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 27th, 21:29
Not only on the TOM, Frank, but on other papers too....I know all the names including the head of dept.
Charles Grixti
Feb 27th, 18:06
With God in the beauty and innocence of youth. Rest in Peace Aimee.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 27th, 18:06
Very sad news. Although no one is perfect in cases where human beings are being treated more attention has to be given to minimise faults through any type of negligence.May this little girl is praying for all from heaven.Condolences to her family. Very tragic incident.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 27th, 17:57
Once two foreign specialists wanted to remove the pharyngeal tonsil or nasopharyngeal tonsil on a child due to the child coughing when horizontal.I studied the situation and compared the nostril to a carburettor where Bernouli confirms a reduction of pressure and so on a humid day the humidity condenses into water drops and falls on the lung entry valve.The child grew well wihout the operation.
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 27th, 17:51
You should all read http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/science/09conv.html
Dr Peter Provnost is one of the leading physicians on Hospital Safety. However as much as we can do to improve safety there will always be the misfortune of death.
Mistakes will always happen. And if someone asks me what if she was my daughter I would be as miserable and angry as these parents. Time heals
Joe Grech
Feb 27th, 18:11
Mur obsor ghalik hej...Time heals! Indeed!
L Galea
Feb 27th, 18:51
Time does not heal Mr Buhagiar you are wrong!
Mauro debattista
Feb 27th, 18:57
Mr Buhagiar it's an insult for someone who lost a dear relative or friend. I lost my brother who was 24 years old. Believe me time doesn't heel.
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 27th, 19:54
I refer you to the Kobler Ross five stages of grief. At the end everyone has to come to terms with grief or mortality. This is all researched and there's nothing one can do.
Joe Busuttil
Feb 27th, 20:10
Have you found yourself in the same situation as these parents? I know that for me there would be no healing with time. Doctors have a great responsibility and everything should be done ,even by checking and double checking,and checking again,so that things like this do not happen. Very sad indeed.
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 27th, 21:34
Oh go away!!! Time heals??? Yeah right!!! I am not saying mistakes cannot be made, because doctors are only human too...But a mother's gut instinct is ALWAYS correct!! And to the sometimes arrogant doctors, they think she is just an overbearingly protective mom and just fob her off!! Anyone remember the case of poor adrian Massa? Who died after a simple appendicectomy? Coincidence maybe......???
M Cassar
Feb 27th, 17:46
Are junior doctors in Malta, still in their 2 year residency period, allowed to examine patients without a fully qualified doctor present? The fact that they then go to discuss their finding with a senior doctor does not mean that they spotted all the signs and symptoms a fully trained doctor would. What qualifications does the doctor in the paediatric clinic have? Has he/she finished residency?
M Fava
Feb 27th, 18:02
Yes they are allowed. In fact, their final exams in 5th year at uni include diagnosing a patient. However, if I were you, I wouldn't be so quick to point fingers at junior doctors. They do diagnose patients but their work is double-checked. You are immensely insulting their knowledge and hard work.
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 20:25
7 doctors.....7 not one. So even if one or two were housemen, what about the other 5?
Michael Bonnici
Feb 27th, 21:59
M Cassar:
Junior Doctors ARE fully qualified doctors, having endured blood, sweat and tears for 5 years under the guidance of the very professional and experienced medical/surgical teams who taught them.
You are indeed immensely insulting to their knowledge and dedication.
Tony Borg
Feb 28th, 07:21
Fava you really missed the point since established docs and profs were all house men one day too. So what is the point of leaving them out of the picture?
If they tried all they could and failed is one thing but Negligence is Punishable!!
If I was the parent I will not rest till their heads roll too.
CONNIE MUSGRAVE
Feb 27th, 17:28
I am deeply saddened for the parents, such a wonderful little girl. someone needs to be accountable for this incident. Meningitis is not a disease nobody knows about. Shame on the doctor that told her he didn't have time to see her. No follow-up, no proper care for this little girl. We need names and they should show the names as they need to man up to this deplorable case.
arthur bugelli
Feb 27th, 17:25
Isn't it sad that when a doctor makes a patient well nobody seems to thank them , yet if something goes wrong a lot of people think that they are terrible. Don't forget that we all human and all makes mistakes sometimes.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 27th, 18:02
Same as Engineers and who are required to guarantee their services and product for years. Doctors do not need to guarantee their services and neither do lawyers, notaries, nurses, teachers, priests and so many more social professions. Guaranteeing one' work is the most mind-boggling part of any service.
M Fava
Feb 27th, 18:05
Except my mistakes don't cost a human life.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 27th, 18:11
Carelessness can never be excused in any profession let alone the medical one and especially where kids are involved!
Doing your utmost but not succeeding is one thing (which can be somehow excused)... Being careless and costing the life of this beautiful being IS NOT!
Courtesy by patients is a great thing and should be encouraged but professionals are expected to do their job well!
M Formosa
Feb 27th, 17:24
Although this is very sad news, nobody is perfect we are all humans. All I can say is that 32 years ago, doctors in Malta saved my life from viral meningitis. Let us not judge.
Peter Agius
Feb 27th, 22:14
Viral meningitis is not as deadly as the bacterial one. In fact viral meningitis is 95% curable with no severe residual effects. On the other hand the bacterial type is always highly dangerous and even if cured will result in devastating after effects due to septecemia. Even children of doctors were misdiagnosed by their parent with fatal results. Rest in peace Aimee. Parents find peace.
Jes Pace
Feb 27th, 17:16
Oh what a tragedy! I am sure we have a little angel looking upon us. It is a tremendous shock to know that a little helpless human being may have lost her life through, God forbid, negligence of others. Jesus, help our souls. Rest in peace Aimee.
Peter Pan
Feb 27th, 17:15
Dear Parents,
My heart goes out to you for the terrible loss that you had to endure. As a parent I can only remotely begin to feel the pain and sorrow that you have been through. I hope you find the support that you need to go through these difficult times, and that with time you will be able to go on with life, treasuring the brief but beautiful time that Aimee was with you.
J Micallef
Feb 27th, 17:02
For the good of all those involved, I hope that there is no sudden case of amnesia and that those in the profession learn something from this sad event.
The little girl may not have died in vain then.
Mr F J Brincat
Feb 27th, 16:54
I don't know what I would do if I lost my daughter like this. I don't think I would cope to be honest.
B. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:38
I would love to show my sympathy to this family. I cannot imagine what they are going trough.
However although there might be some degree of tort and culpa in the doctors actions, one have to be sure whether they had done everything possible in their capacity before starting throwing all these comments against them. Wait, the element of truth in the whole story has not been established yet.
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 27th, 17:33
My dear, I am not a doctor, an engineer but had to stay with my son in hospital for a year.
The only thing I can think of (and my son almost dies because of this) is that sometimes they are terribly busy. I have seen 1 doctor and only 1 nurse takce care of a packed ward. Myself, I did not blame the nurse who did the mistake of giving him undiluted saline!! I balamed it on the adminstratdocton.
Vincent Galea
Feb 27th, 16:37
I believe that even though our error rate is low, even with the best practices it will never be zero.
Anthony Falzon
Feb 27th, 16:55
an error rate....by all seven doctors???
Andrew John Mercieca
Feb 27th, 16:34
I am amazed at some of the comments and the venom that is being released against doctors!
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 16:56
I think somebody is instigating and riling the family against these doctors. Somebody who has a lot to gain monitory? Besides venom there is a lot of hate. Why are they putting the families through this grief? Shame on you all.
charles fenech
Feb 27th, 17:08
Maybe when you come down from the podium you and your colleagues are on, you might understand why people are expressing themselves the way they are. Everyone should shoulder their responsibility, irrespective what status they have. IF the court finds them negligent they should face the music. I'm not too sure about not publicizing their names, they don't hide others', so why should they?
Victor Rodenas
Feb 27th, 17:17
If it`s your only daughter you will reason differently,...so shut up and do not hurt the sentements of the family.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 27th, 18:14
Don't know if you noticed but a two year old's life has been wasted and a family destroyed due to carelessness!
If it was just a case of a failed attempt to save someone I would agree with you but this is not the case!
Robert Caruana
Feb 27th, 16:32
What looks a little (or very) strange to me is the fact that seven doctors are involved here. I can imagine a careless, incompetent or even negligent doctor or consultant .. maybe even two .... but seven??
I don't know but it seems rather odd, to say the very least for a patient to be examined by seven doctors that all happen to be careless and negligent! Something is definitely not quite right.
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 17:03
Unfortunately this has become a money making business for some ????????. Win or lose they have nothing to lose but make money. I do feel for the little girl's family having to go through this and I hope they use good judgement because from here on very few doctors will want to treat them if they are afraid of repercussions. Think about that, doctors have feelings and families to worry about too.
Andrew John Mercieca
Feb 27th, 16:31
I think that the less said the better for everybody! It is very easy to condemn. I m sure that everyone involved is passing through a hard time and that should be respected. It is very unfair though to condemn the doctors involved; especially people knowing little or nothing about medicine and about the case.
Being a doctor and a parent myself I can imagine what everyone is passing through.
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 17:06
Best advice I have seen so far, Doctor, and I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Feb 27th, 22:04
My full sympathy with the family. However I remember my wife's uncle who was a leading child specialist in Toronto lamenting that it was becoming very difficult to find doctors who want to specialize in child pediatrics because the consequences of anything going wrong would immediately ruin a career. Let us remember that many of us parents owe it to doctors in our hospital for saving our offspring
Joe Grech
Feb 27th, 16:24
Such a lovely child...how sad she's gone! May her parents and relations find solace and peace of mind.
Shame on those responsible.
Shame that there does not seem to be accountability at Mater Dei! Can the exMinister put the public's concern at rest over this flagrant possibility?
Professionalism and accountability in hospitals are more important to the Maltese than the giving of free medicines..
JOSEPH VELLA
Feb 27th, 16:51
here we go. political comments between the lines. don't you ever get bored of your one track mind?
Anthony Falzon
Feb 27th, 16:56
The fact that they have been taken to court proves that there is accountability.
Joe Grech
Feb 27th, 17:56
@Joseph Vella - political comments my foot! As far as I can tell, they were taken to court because the child's parents filed a case in court and not because the hospital authorities started investigations. My comment would equally have applied had there been a PL administration...
It's YOU who's being politically biased!
Mr J. Bonnici
Feb 27th, 16:23
'...he told her that it was for him to decide and not someone else.'
Some doctors should shed their pride and try to be more considerate.
Most of us can never understand the intensity of the sorrow that these parents are going through.
Having said that, though they are doing the right thing in seeking justice, in the end they need to forgive to be able to grieve properly.
Paul Azzopardi
Feb 27th, 16:15
Some Doctors attitude are close to scandlous, some pharmacies have the practice at the back of their shop, queues of up to 25 people in a confined space waiting to c the doctor at 20 to 30 euros a pop and doctor turning them out in 5 to 10mintues!!!! Strangly they are the only proffessionals that can give an ''Estimate'' of what they earn to income tax which is the norm being below reality/truth
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:14
The very fact that 7 doctor are accused makes it very difficult to conclude that all 7 were negligent when diagnosing a gastroenteritis instead of a meningitis.
I have had a child admitted with gastroenteritis and she was very sick and very miserable, so I don't know what relevance the note in the file makes.
Lisa Ganado
Feb 27th, 16:13
ban the names when they have already been printed? confusing? i think the public have the right to know which doctors are being investigated or charged
JOSEPH VELLA
Feb 27th, 16:53
I agree, but not before they are found guilty
S. Azzopardi
Feb 27th, 18:58
I totally agree.
Claire Busuttil
Feb 27th, 16:10
Nixtieq biss, li dawn iz zewgt genituri jirnexxilhom ikomplu jixghu hajjithom....ghal binthom ukoll.
Stefan Limongello
Feb 27th, 16:10
@ GL Calleja 15:51
Kindly re-read my comment cause you haven't understood a word of what I said! I asked "why 'common' people - when still being charged - have their names splashed in the media, but the 'professions' (lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc.) have their names banned?"
Therefore do you agree that doctors' names are banned but common folk's no?
Anthony Falzon
Feb 27th, 16:57
Well said Stefan.
Claire Busuttil
Feb 27th, 16:09
il problema hi li hafna tobba ihossuwhom wisq superjuri u ma jikonsultawx bejnithom....u jekk konsulent qal mod....it tobba ta tahtu, zgur li ma imeruhx.
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:18
SEVEN doctors and nobody, nobody suspected meningitis.
If you don't suspect something you can't do anything about it hux hekk?
Claire Busuttil
Feb 27th, 16:07
Not publish their names, is an insult to these poor parents. The court should have not granted it.
For heaven`s sake, here 2 people, had their life changed!!!... cannot understand why all these favours to these doctors, who acted not only mistakely (to mistake is human) but carelessly, and without any apperent feelings.'' he told her that it was for him to decide and not someone else''
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:20
I thought this was about justice and not vengeance Claire.
If they are found guilty the names will be published. If they are innocent why should they be published?
Anthony Falzon
Feb 27th, 17:00
Adrian we are talking about the death of a two year old who's life could have been saved, so yes this is about vengeance too.......vengeance is mine.
Maria Brincat
Feb 27th, 16:07
LuJiddispjacini hafna, u nista' nimmagina l-ugigh tal-genituri, ghax jien garrabt ukoll. Imma l-ebda qorti u l-ebda sentenza ma ttik lura dak li tlift... BilliTwahhal f'dak u fl-iehor ma jtikx is-serenita Li jkollok bzonn.
Nghid ghalija, s-serenita' sibtha biss meta accettajt illi hekk kellu jkun, li ghalkemm jien ghamilt Ghall ahjar, dik ma stajtx nikkontrollaha.
Amanda Buhagiar
Feb 27th, 15:51
R.I.P little princess. Look after your parents from heaven. What a tragic story. Poor parents. What a heartbreak. Ghatija O Mulej il-mistrieh ta dejjem.
Mr C Camilleri
Feb 27th, 15:47
Disgusting.
I know doctors that will go all the way to help but I have seen professors that are only eager to collect their money and in their eyes you can see the coldness that tells you "Money first then your health !" Is this the reason why people become doctors or professors ? To have a nice villa and loads of money ? Do these people know how important our families and friends are for us ?
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:23
C Camilleri,
In Malta we have life expectancy at par with much richer nations. We also have one of the world's lowest infant mortality...despite not having abortion (as many very sick fetuses are aborted elsewhere and would decrease infant mortality)
This low mortality is thanks to the same paediatricians taken to court, and not due to holy water or the air we breath!!
D Portelli
Feb 27th, 15:36
Hope that those responsable will pay for there mistake. And moreover they won't be able to practice anymore. Everyone makes mistakes but death of someone is an irrevesible mistake.
Gaby Spiteri
Feb 27th, 15:33
I agree that the names should not be names, until proven guilty. However I hope that in the meantime, their medical license has been temporarily taken.
Deepest sympathies to the parents. No outcome will ever ease your pain.
Paul Zammit
Feb 27th, 15:21
though bacterial Meningitis presents some.. I'd say 'unmistakable' symptomes which very often trivialise a rapid and correct diagnosis ... one has to keep in mind that the docs are nothing but human beings just like you and me. They oughta be allowed to make a mistake here and there... despite the fact that the repercussions of such mistakes are shockingly horrible.
J Farrugia
Feb 27th, 15:38
''They oughta be allowed to make a mistake here and there.'' i hope to god that no one in your family happens to be the here and there when they make that mistake. What a stupid comment.
No they cannot make a mistake, just like a pilot cannot or a general in the military.
Having the Word Dr is not just for looking all hot shot and big, there's a serious consequence if you mess up.
Victor Rodenas
Feb 27th, 15:42
If she was your daughter you will unleash hell on earth.
Peter Bonello
Feb 27th, 15:47
I must disagree! If a doctor admits the patient looks "extremely miserable" then they should seek immediate attention maybe ask for multiple opinions from colleagues. This girl died without being given a chance to fight! I must say, SOME (not all) professors are very arrogant and only give you attention if you visit them privately!!! rip young girl, deepest sympathies to her parents!
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:28
@J Farrugia. You have a very false impression that doctors are gods, magicians or psychics.
A doctor does not have supernatural powers to make a diagnosis but must rely on the history, the examinations and tests. Some things are easy and obvious, and sometimes we come up with the wrong diagnosis. 7 separate doctors in this case.
If you expect perfection please give up on doctors, see a priest!!!
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:31
Victor Rodenas,
Unleashing hell on earth does NOT mean that someone HAS to be responsible.
I know many many doctors whose parents, siblings or children died because they did not diagnose something serious. If it happens with our very own loved ones it can happen with all our patients!!
Anthony Falzon
Feb 27th, 17:02
"A mistake here and there..." by all seven doctors???
M Cassar
Feb 27th, 17:36
@ Adrian P Cassar
''I know many many doctors whose parents, siblings or children died because they did not diagnose something serious.''
If you do know doctors who are treating their own family then you are staying silent when you are seeing doctors behave unethically because as you know a doctor should not treat family members, see why in
N Engl J Med 1991; 325:1290-1294
twanny borg
Feb 27th, 15:07
Mela mhux veru li tat-tobba jindifen! Ommi kienet tghid ukoll "huma ifejquk u huma joqtluk". Meta kont tifel kien hemm tifel li dan smajtu jghid "minn jaf kemm irrid naghmel gid meta nikber" wara ftit marad u miet. Id-destin kiefer kien ukoll ghal din it-tifla l-futur gie mehud lilha bi ftit attenzjoni. Id-destin nistu nibdluh sakemm ghadu ma sarx pero darba sar bhal hin ma jmurx lura.
Stefan Limongello
Feb 27th, 15:04
What a waste of life!!
Can someone clarify why 'common' people - when still being charged - have their names splashed in the media, but the 'professions' (lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc.) have their names banned?
It might sound like a generalisation, but I recall quite a number of cases where the names were banned from publication.
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 15:51
Mr Limongello there is a time and a place for everything and this is not the time or the place. Really how many of us know all that much about medicine? These people save many lives and someday that life they save might be yours. Be careful of what you wish for. Let the court decide who is guilty or not guilty but publishing the names right now can be very harmful to the innocent doctors.
John Attard
Feb 27th, 14:59
As if one doctor would blame another. is this a joke. in 1998 a lady i know gave birth to a child at a hospital in the south of Malta. the child never said hello mum as she died two days after. and the surgeon still working day and night and the case was hidden from the public! To these doctors life is about having a pocket full of Euros, nothing else! Publish their names now
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 15:32
Mr Attard, I hate to be rude but next time you happen to feel seriously ill or get into a serious accident. call an auto mechanic. Let the court decide who is to blame because once the names of these doctors are out, guilty or not, you cannot reverse the damage done. Be very, very careful of what you wish for.
charles fenech
Feb 27th, 16:55
Automechanic is responsible for your car. A doctor is responsible for a human being. They both face music if something wrong happens during their responsibilities. EVERYONE needs to understand that the music you face is dependent on your responsibility. In this case, its a human being - Therefore if need be imprisonment. If you're a doctor and you are scarred about your responsibility, RESIGN.
paul camilleri
Feb 27th, 14:58
it is wrong to publicize these doctors names but if found guilty they should be barred from parctising medicine and there doctors licence conviscated
Paul Zammit
Feb 27th, 15:23
as if we had plenty of them to spare... we should be thankful any of them is still working in Malta where they are extremely underpaid compared to anywhere else in europe... quick n cheap to talk ... too quick I'd say.
Joseph Borg
Feb 27th, 15:29
Why it is wrong. Give reasons please. Are they more privilaged then you and me in the eyes of justice?
GL Calleja
Feb 27th, 15:38
In this case no names should be publicized until the court hears all the evidence because once a name is out guilty or not you cannot repair the damage and that doctor guilty or not might not be able to practice medicine for the rest of his or her life, well at least not here in Malta.Watch what you wish for and I do grief with the family for the loss of their little angel. Watch what you wish for
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 27th, 16:34
Paul, this is EXACTLY what happens if someone is found to be criminally negligent.
In fact the medical council also sometimes suspends doctors who have been negligent or unethical even if they are never take to court. A year or two ago a foreign neurosurgeon was suspended after she didn't turn up for an operation. Nobody died, nobody was taken to court, but she was suspended!
Mr Joe Frendo
Feb 27th, 14:56
My prayers are for the parents of this lovely angel! One cannot image what they might have been through.
Unacceptable loss of life!
JF
Philip Borg
Feb 27th, 14:51
For some doctors it' s just work. They need to be reminded that they are responsible for people' s lives especially young ones. They must pay dearly.
Joseph Borg
Feb 27th, 15:18
have you ever made a mistake while you were working? Unfortunately when a doctor makes a mistake the life of the patient is put in danger. However, it does not mean that the doctor was careless, it could have been a genuine mistake.
charles fenech
Feb 27th, 16:50
Joseph Borg, Nisfidak tghid l-istess sentenza li kieku kienet it-tifla tieghek! (allahares qatt taghddi minna!!)
Mario Borg
Feb 27th, 14:47
The Public needs to know who these doctors are. The public would not be happy to take their kids to these doctors knowing that they may not be competent, perception or not, the public has a right to know what is going on, this is a very serious matter that should be in full public view, I would not take my kids to these doctors until court proceeding are over. Give up the names..................!
Joseph Borg
Feb 27th, 15:19
so much for presumed innocent until proven guilty!
Joseph Borg
Feb 27th, 14:45
Please name them. The public need to know.
twanny borg
Feb 27th, 14:50
Sorry joseph ma naqbilx qabel ma jinstabu hatja.
Joseph Borg
Feb 27th, 15:34
@ twanny borg
Imma ma haddiehor ma timxiex hekk il qorti. Akkuzati ohrajn jissemmew isimhom qabel ma jinstabu hatja. Hadd mhu suppost priviligjat quddiem ghajnejn il gustizzja.
Maria Brincat
Feb 27th, 16:01
Sorry Joseph, imma qabel ma jinstabu hatja ...mhux li ghamlu zball (zball jaghmlu kulhadd, u kulhadd uman, avolja iva, f'dan il kas il konsegwenzi kienu koroh hafna)...qabel ma jinstabu hatja ta negligenza m'ghandux jixxandar isimhom...
Ikun Hawn kriminali kbar f'kasi ta abbuz fuq it-tfal, per ezempju, u isimhom ma jixxandarx lanqas wara li jistabu hatja....
twanny borg
Feb 28th, 07:38
@joseph borg - naqbel malli ghidtli veru l-qorti mhux ma' kullhadd xorta. pero 7 tobba li huma vicin in-nies xorta jibqgha jkollu effett hazin darba jinstabu innocenti. naqbel li ghandha tidhol ligi li ma jixxandrux ismijiet qabel nies jinstabu hatja.
Please choose the reason of your report below: