CMO tells mom disciplinary action recommended in Jaden Mars’ death

After months of waiting, the mother of the four-year-old boy who died late last year while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for a bitten tongue, was finally able to speak to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud concerning the findings of the investigations launched into the boy’s death.

Jaden Mars was admitted last year December to the GPH but had died a week later after suffering multiple heart events. For months, Natalie Caseley, the boy’s mother, had been trying to confer with Persaud but to no avail.

 Jaden Caseley
Jaden Caseley

Caseley informed Stabroek News that a meeting was held with Persaud last week and so far she is pleased with what was discussed.

The woman said she was assured by the CMO that recommendations had indeed been made to the Medical and Nursing Councils for disciplinary actions against four health professionals who had dealt with the young boy prior to his death.

According to Caseley, she was informed that the actions were definite and will be enacted by the councils. During investigations, she said, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recognised a number of errors which showed negligence in the following of the hospital’s protocols.

Mars had been healthy on his arrival at the GPH.

Caseley said her next step would be to follow up on what disciplinary actions will be taken by the councils.

“I feel a bit better now,” she said. “The meeting was the professional thing to do. They needed to update me so I can know that this is what was done and what will be done.

Now, I can have an idea as to where the case stands and how close I am to ending this all.” She continued, “I will still have to keep following up and I will take any other options after that.”