When road accidents happen, the reality is that we become totally dependent on rescue and paramedic teams, doctors as well as other important hospital staff to help save us.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that we can always rely on these people, as experienced by a mother of a car accident victim in Kelantan.
In Azimah Abdullah Zawawi’s Facebook post that has been reshared by the victim’s cousin on Twitter, she tells the story of how her son didn’t get the appropriate treatment he needed for his injuries at a hospital in Kelantan.
At the emergency department
At 2.45pm on January 14, 2023, Azimah received a phone call about the accident and was told that her son is being sent to Hospital Pasir Mas for his injuries.
Upon arrival at the emergency department (ED), Azimah found the her son sitting in a wheelchair with his clothes bloodied. He had bleeding on his face, was vomiting and appeared weak.
The victim’s father then asked for permission to give the victim a fresh change of clothes, to which the hospital staff agreed.
Getting stitches
After changing into fresh clothes, the victim was referred to the District Dental Clinic. He received treatment from 4.45pm to 9pm.
“Whilst being treated, the medical officer said, ‘I’ll just stitch as much as I can ya,'” said Azimah.
According to Azimah, the victim was also supposedly left alone with his mouth hanging open for about 30-40 minutes during the treatment.
Getting discharged
After getting stitches, the victim was referred back to the doctor from the ED and that’s when Azimah and her husband received the most shocking news – that their son can be discharged!
“Okay, your child can be discharged. I’ll write down the signs you need to keep an eye out for at home. If he displays any of these symptoms, bring him to the hospital straight away,” the doctor said, adding that they can go to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ), Kota Bharu the next day for further treatment on his mouth as an outpatient.
The doctor’s note to Azimah on some red flags to look out for
The hospital is overcrowded
“As a mom, I felt very unsure about bringing my son home because he was still bleeding, vomiting and felt weak. I begged for my son to be warded so that he can be monitored by the hospital,” wrote Azimah.
However, the ED doctor rejected Azimah’s request with the excuse that the hospital is lacking in beds and has too many patients. Azimah’s continued pleading for her son to be hospitalised was ignored on grounds that the doctor has other cases to solve.
To compromise, Azimah suggested that her son be transferred to HRPZ, since he was already going to visit the Mouth Surgery Specialist the next day. Sadly, her request was once again rejected based on the reason that the hospital also has no empty beds.
Taking matters into their own hands
“I was getting more and more worried thinking about bringing my son who looked so weak home,” said Azimah. So, her husband decided to meet with the doctor again to relieve their concerns.
The doctor then responded arrogantly, “I’m tired. I have many more patients to see. I have a lot of work.”
Disappointed, Azimah and her husband took their soon and headed straight for Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) in their own car. The victim was still vomiting and hadn’t been given a proper diagnosis.
Getting treated again
As soon as Azimah and her family arrived at HUSM, her son was immediately placed in the yellow zone and received appropriate treatment.
“The officer at HUSM asked for our permission to remove my son’s stitches at his mouth because he said it was done too poorly. There were also some wounds that weren’t examined by the previous doctor that needed to be cleaned,” said Azimah.
“I was heartbroken when I heard that my son had to get stitches and metal inserted into his mouth again. HUSM also told us that my son actually suffered from face fractures and a broken chin, so he’d require further treatment.”
Do better
Frustrated at their experience in the initial hospital posed some questions asking if the way the doctor acted was right.
“We know that we’re not knowledgeable on the topic of patient treatment, but we still have instincts on the rights we have as patients and as users of a government service.”
“Imagine. If people like us who’re somewhat knowledgeable are treated this way, what more those who have no choice but to blindly follow doctors’ decisions?”
To end her post, Azimah thanked the staff at HUSM for the invaluable attention given to her son that fateful night.
She also urged the government to be more proactive in monitoring its medical officers so that the country’s healthcare system is not compromised.
“I hope our complaint made on SISPA KKM will be given a constructive answer.”
When doctors are not treated well and hospitals are not well-equipped, the rakyat are the ones who suffer.
Also read: Deputy Director of Hospital in Perlis Charged For Swindling Frontliners of Covid-19 Cash Allowance
