A former General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Prof Titus Beyuo, has said the Winneba Trauma Hospital may not have ensured continuous care resulting in the death of the patient allegedly dumped in the bush at Gomoa Ajobi in the Central Region.
Multiple reports indicate that the patient had been hospitalised at the facility for several days after an accident.
Aside from having two broken legs, she had allegedly suffered from some mental illness as a result of the accident. However, unlike other victims, her family failed to show up to care for her.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on June 17, he said, “Even if this patient is not from that community, sometimes, they are sent to shelter homes and we have a few of them in this country. At least, this woman should have been kept in the care of someone who would have brought her subsequently back for a review. When was this P.O.P. going to be removed? If she is left in the bush, who will bring her back for removal? So, the hospital did not ensure continuous care.”
Prof Beyuo also said the community members could have also intervened and alerted authorities or returned the patient to the hospital.
“The community, if they saw her there for three days, it is scandalous, to say the least. And to wait for her to die, even if she is not from that community, someone should have gone to the aid of this woman. At least report the case to the police or get her to a hospital. If you go there and do not identify the woman, it is not a reason to abandon her”he argued.
“If only anybody there had reported to the assemblyman, chief or anybody [It would have helped]. People are quick to put things on social media, how come this never came up till the woman died? It is very unfortunate,”he said.
The professor added that the GMA will release a statement after it has been fully briefed on the matter.
According to him, the association does not condone unethical practices and always cautions its members.
He stated that the GMA is the mouthpiece of the entire health sector and advocates for the health of every single Ghanaian.
“Therefore, I think that the delay might be because they haven’t been adequately briefed. While all this is going on, the 30-day investigation period, I am hoping that they will expedite action so that we get to the bottom of this before the 30 days.”
