Minister of Health to investigate case of girl who died after tonsil surgery

SHARJAH // Humaid Mohammed al Qutami, the minister of health, is to lead an investigation into how a young girl died following a routine operation. Hour Ahmad al Naqbi, 7, died in Kalba Hospital a day after she had tonsil surgery. Her family has lodged a complaint. Sawsan Traboulsy, a spokesman for the ministry, said: "The minister himself will be in charge of the committee. He is doing it personally. We are just waiting for all the medical reports so the committee can reach a decision about the case."

The committee would decide what action, if any, was needed once it received all the relevant documentation, he said. The Kalba Public Prosecution Office was also investigating the case. The child was admitted to Kalba Hospital on Thursday June 19 to have her tonsils removed. However, her condition deteriorated rapidly after the operation and she died the following morning. Her family accused a surgeon at the hospital surgeon of neglect and complained to police, who investigated the claims before passing the case to the public prosecutions office.

The Ministry of Health has the power to revoke medical licences and put measures in place to prevent medical staff under investigation from leaving the country. The public prosecutor's investigation will focus on possible criminal wrongdoing relating to the girl's death. @Email:[e-mail]