EXPAT’S DEATH — DR CHARGED
CAR CRASH BRITON, 71, DIED HOURS AFTER BEING SENT HOME FROM HOSPITAL
A GİRNE hospital doctor has been charged with “medical negligence” that led to the death of a British pensioner.
Pınar Özgüven appeared before Girne District Court on Tuesday in connection with the death of Robert (Bob) Deeming, hours after he was discharged from Akçiçek Hospital in July 2014 following a car crash.
She was bailed on sureties totalling 150,000TL and her travel documents were confiscated.
The court was told that a joint investigation by the Health Ministry and the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association found Dr Özgüven had failed to conduct the necessary examinations before discharging the 71-year-old former miner and soldier. Their report found that Mr Deeming had died as a result of internal bleeding. This was confirmed by a post-mortem examination at Lefkoşa’s Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, which showed internal damage to veins and organs from abdominal trauma.
Lapta residents Bob and Gillian Deeming were admitted to the Girne hospital on July 23, 2014, after Mr Deeming had lost control of his car and collided with a mound of earth on the edge of the Karşıyaka-to-Lapta back road at 7.30pm.
The couple were X-rayed and kept for two hours before being sent home by taxi.
Mrs Deeming, 73, told Cyprus Today at the time: “My husband
had a pacemaker and was taking warfarin to thin his blood, for which he carried a card which we showed to the doctor. My husband seemed perfectly all right but I was badly bruised and unable to walk.
“We are not medical people, so we did what the doctor told us.”
Warfarin is prescribed to prevent the formation of blood clots and a manufacturer’s warning advises users to report injuries immediately to a doctor, particularly traffic accident compression injuries.
Mr Deeming died at home at 2am the following day, after he awoke feeling unwell, got out of bed and collapsed. He was buried at Lapta Cemetery on August 5, 2014. Universal Patients’ Rights Association head Emete İmge said: “We have shared this sad story on our social media page to give courage to patients and their families to fight for their rights.
“Mistakes are made in all professions and for this reason we want laws to be changed to protect patients and doctors, and the introduction of compulsory professional indemnity insurance.”
Cyprus Today was unable to contact Mrs Deeming or her solicitor this week, but Ms İmge said a separate case could be opened for compensation.
Cyprus Turkish Medical Association head Dr Kenan Arifoğlu said: “Reports of medical negligence are on the increase and currently stand at around 10.
“We need new legislation, more recording of information by doctors, who are already overworked, and professional indemnity insurance, although that will increase medical treatment costs which many are already unable to pay.
“We are also getting complaints from doctors and this case could deter medical professionals from treating patients who are very ill, for fear of being held responsible.”