Nurse Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Negligence Leading to Patient's Death

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

The High Appeals Court has upheld a one-year prison sentence for an Asian nurse found guilty of negligence in the death of a patient at Salmaniya Medical Complex. The nurse was found to have caused the patient's death by dropping her while transferring her from a bed to a wheelchair.

The Public Prosecution had initially charged the nurse, along with another nurse, with causing the patient's death due to negligence in their professional duties. While the first nurse was acquitted, the second nurse was initially sentenced to one year in prison. This sentence was later upheld by the High Appeals Court.

The incident occurred when the patient, who was admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain, was being transferred to another ward. During the transfer, the nurse dropped the patient, causing her head to hit a hard surface. The impact was heard by everyone present, but the nurse did not disclose the incident immediately.

The nurse claimed that the sound was caused by the patient's bag hitting a medical equipment stand. However, after the patient fell unconscious, it was discovered that she had suffered a head injury. The delay in providing appropriate medical care, including a CT scan, led to a severe brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding. Despite emergency surgery, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate, and she eventually passed away while on life support.