Ramlogan: Parents want to see PAHO report on neo-natal deaths urgently

ATTORNEY Anand Ramlogan says the mothers of the seven babies who died at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) between April 2 and 9 are disappointed because they were never interviewed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its probe of the incident.

Ramlogan, in a letter from his law firm Freedom Chambers to the Ministry of Health on June 24, said the mothers have "understandably expressed their disappointment, frustration, and concern about the possibly (sic) that the PAHO investigation could be biased.

"PAHO interviewed the medical staff at the PoSGH and would have, therefore, prepared this report based on their one-sided, self-serving version of events."

Nevertheless, Ramlogan called on the Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh to release PAHO's report to the families.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed receipt of the PAHO report on June 23, two days after PAHO delivered the report to the ministry. The ministry said it would be made public after an "internal review" was done.

"We (note) that PAHO has submitted its long-awaited investigative report to the Minister of Health," Ramlogan wrote. "The minister promised to make this report public and, despite their reservations, our clients are anxious to receive a copy of same.

"We, therefore, call upon Minister Terrance Deyalsingh to disclose a copy of the PAHO investigative report to us as a matter of urgency."

He said the report's release was necessary because the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), which manages the Port of Spain General Hospital, "has refused to provide a copy of the internal investigative report (on) the basis that it is being prepared for internal use."

Ramlogan said the NWRHA "refused to pay for a specialist doctor to review the medical records so that the grieving mothers can obtain the necessary medical expert evidence for them," adding that "The grieving mothers and the public have a right to know what went wrong and what caused the death of their babies."

He said he and his clients expected "full and frank and prompt disclosure of this report in the public interest," particularly in light of Deyalsingh's promise that the investigation would not be swept under the carpet.

"Our clients have thus far, therefore, been left in the dark where this investigation is concerned and it is high time that they be made privy to the contents of this long-awaited report.

"They live in the hope that it was not sanitised and designed simply to do political damage control for the government."

Freedom Law Chambers previously issued several pre-action protocol letters, threatening a class-action lawsuit.

PAHO released a statement after delivering the report, saying the probe done between April 22-26 was "led by international experts in infection prevention and control, epidemiology, microbiology and newborn intensive care," including university professor Dr Nalini Singh, clinical microbiologist Dr Grisel Rodriguez and head of the NICU of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados Dr Gillian Birchwood.

"Previous to the submission of the final report, the team of international experts provided immediate/short-term medium and long-term recommendations to senior management representatives of the MoH and NWRHA on April 26.

PAHO/WHO (World Health Organization)," it said, "routinely conducts assessments of infection prevention control measures and other aspects of health system delivery to assist its member states in enhancing overall health services, based on international standards."