Dear Editor,
It is with much sadness that I read the about the plight of the Critchlows at the East Coast of Demerara Health Centre which resulted in the death of their infant son. I recall the day the same thing happened to my son at the Kitty Health Centre but with a different result.
It was on December 28, 2001. I took my son Michael Newton to the Kitty Health Centre for his second booster shot; he was four months old. The nurse administering the injections called the name Michael, I got up went to her and said Michael Newton and she said yes Michael.
She proceeded to give him two injections on both thighs and then turned and asked me if he was over one year old. My reply of course was no, he is four months old and she held her head and said to me, “Look what you mek I do,” and continued lamenting that I made her give my son the injections that were meant for another Michael who was four years old. I still remember the stench of stale booze on her breath. The injections given to my son were yellow fever and MMR and the dosage was for a four-year-old.
That moment, to my mind, was the most fearful one I have ever experienced; I could not speak, I felt the breath returning to my lungs in lumps and tears streamed down my face. The other attending nurse was shocked and muttered under her breath, “She can’t see that’s a baby,” and being very sympathetic with me gently advised that I return home and look for signs of brain damage. I penned a letter to the Stabroek News detailing that incident.
Calls were made to the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer’s offices by my sister, which were met with promises of an investigation. However, it was only after my letter to the editor of Stabroek News that I received a response from the Chief Medical Officer at that time in the form of a letter, hand delivered to me indicating that the injection was harmless and would pass through his system. Two nurses from the health centre also visited and of course everything seemed normal with my child. At that time I felt vindicated and accepted what was said to me.
Today my son is crippled. I watched him deteriorate over the years and in 2012 he was no longer able to walk. I went to many doctors over the years who could not readily diagnose what was wrong with him. His muscles never fully developed and it is now said to be muscular dystrophy. No one in my family as far back as anyone can remember ever had that issue. I know those injections affected my child and I have lived with the mistake of that nurse every day for the past thirteen years, and it has not been easy. No one from the health sector has ever followed up with me as to the status of my child. It is obvious that a few days could not determine how the injections would affect him, nor did it “pass through his system.”
He has been attending school at the Ptolemy Reid’s Rehabilitation Centre for the past seven months. I enjoy his company every day though he seldom says much. It took him two years to learn to spell his first name and at the age of twelve he was in grade four. It is an enormous blessing to have him around; the Critchlows would never be able to say that.
The negligence of a health worker, who was supposed to serve and protect made a critical error because, to my mind, she had too much to drink over that Christmas weekend. I still remember her name, what she looks like and the sound of her voice. The Critchlows need justice and I hope those in authority ensure that they get it.
And to the delinquent nurse, lives were in her hands and she was supposed to, at all times, operate with the care that is equal to the task at hand. My heart goes out to the parents and I can truly sympathize with them and sincerely hope that this issue does not fade away but that justice is served.
The lack of disciplinary action against delinquent health workers is the reason for such malpractice and the relevant authorities need to take responsibility. It is time that someone faced the penalty for their actions and a strong message be sent. Also, the Critchlows must be adequately compensated and the justice they receive must be satisfactory.
Yours faithfully,
Rennita Bentick
