Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong (Can Duoc, Long An) reported that his wife, Mrs. Do Thi Kim Giac (born 1952), has had diabetes and high blood pressure for the past three years. On January 6, 2006, she visited Cho Ray Hospital for stomach discomfort.
A week later, the results of a gastroscopy indicated a benign fundic tumor. She was admitted to the gastrointestinal surgery department and underwent surgery on January 12 without the consent of her family. On January 27, the hospital discharged her despite her being in a comatose state.
On January 29, Mrs. Kim Giac was readmitted in critical condition and required a second surgery. Tragically, she passed away in the intensive care unit on February 15. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong believes that his wife died unjustly due to the negligent treatment by the doctors at Cho Ray Hospital (performing gastric surgery while she had diabetes and high blood pressure).
In response to Mr. Thuong’s complaint, Dr. Nguyen Van Khoi, the deputy director of the hospital, stated that upon receiving the patient’s family’s complaint, the hospital convened an ethics committee meeting to review the case.
According to Dr. Khoi, the gastrointestinal surgery department and the operating surgeon followed all administrative and professional procedures. They provided detailed explanations to the patient and her family, particularly regarding the risks and potential complications associated with the surgery, and signed a consent form in accordance with regulations.
Regarding the diagnosis, all clinical data, paraclinical findings, and pathological anatomy confirmed that the patient had gastric tubular adenocarcinoma with serosal invasion. Therefore, the decision to perform a total gastrectomy was the best option to remove the invasive tumor.
Ten days after the first surgery, the patient stabilized and was discharged home for the Tet holiday. However, she was readmitted on January 29 with symptoms of vomiting, fatigue, and abdominal pain following the total gastrectomy.
Cho Ray Hospital diagnosed the patient with peritonitis due to an anastomotic leak between the esophagus and jejunum. The doctors explained the situation to the family and performed surgery to repair the anastomotic leak, as well as opening the jejunum for feeding.
The cause of the patient’s death was not related to endocrine (diabetes) or cardiovascular issues, as she had been stabilized and treated by specialists prior to surgery. During the treatment process, there were no records of a diabetes flare-up.
The patient’s death was attributed to the progression of the cancer condition, with tumor growth leading to an anastomotic leak post-surgery.
L.TH.H
