Magoha quits KNH brain surgery error investigation

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board chairman George Magoha. He pulled out of the investigations into the botched brain surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital, citing a conflict of interest. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Wrong patient underwent a brain operation.
  • Four medics were suspended but consultant was spared.
  • Master's students, known as registrars, boycotted work.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board chairman George Magoha has pulled out of investigations into the bungled brain surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital, citing a conflict of interest.

Prof Magoha said given the fact that the consultant neurosurgeon on call the night the surgery took place - Dr Michael Magoha- was his son, he would not participate in the investigation.

Instead, Prof Magoha said the board vice chairperson, Prof Alice Mutungi, would lead the investigations.

DISCIPLINE

“It is the board that will investigate the matter. I will not be directly involved. I am not the board and the board is not Magoha,” the urologist, who also chairs the Kenya National Examinations Council, said.

“I am not even a member of the investigation committee.”

KNH board on Thursday said it would not discipline the medics involved as it left the matter to KMPDB.

The medical board chaired by Prof Magoha was put in charge of the investigations by Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki on Thursday and the findings are expected to be handed over to the minister in six days.

VICTIMISED

Surgeons at the KNH could have missed basic but vital procedures leading to the botched head operation.

On the spot are Dr Magoha, the neurosurgery student who conducted it, the ward nurse, the theatre receiving nurse and the anaesthetist.

Other than the consultant, the other four were were suspended for their role in the surgery.

As a result, the master’s degree students known as registrars went on strike, demanding that the consultant be suspended too.

The registrars say their colleague was unfairly victimised and that the hospital sorts out system failures.

LABELLING

“While our friend may have exhibited some procedural shortcomings, the surgery was done on the wrong patient mainly because of wrong labelling,” a note written by the registrars read.

“The consultant is always on call to address any issues that arise during operationss,” said a source who requested anonymity. “He is the person with the maximum responsibility as he oversees everything in the theatre”.

While in training, a registrar works under a consultant.

WORK BOYCOTT

The registrars also said they withdrew their services for fear of not being protected should errors occur since lecturers were on strike.

By boycotting duty, non-urgent medical or surgical services offered at KNH were suspended.
On Thursday, Prof Magoha heeded to the registrars’ call when he requested the withdrawal of the suspension letters, to which the hospital agreed.

“The most important thing is to get them back to work,” Prof Magoha said.