Family demands probe into Psychiatric Hospital murder
Manama: A Bahraini psychiatric patient was allegedly killed by another patient at the Psychiatric Hospital in Salmaniya on Friday.
According to the man’s family, “he was receiving treatment at the institution when he was assaulted and choked to death by another patient who’s admitted at the same hospital.”
Ibrahim Ali Al Asmakh was buried at his hometown graveyard in Aali on Friday evening.
The family said the deceased was often admitted in the hospital to receive treatment for depression that he frequently suffered from.
They said he was admitted a week back to continue his treatment and that they received a call from the hospital on Friday, informing them of the demise of Ibrahim.
The family claimed that they were informed by the coroner that “the cause of death was due to a cardiac arrest caused by suffocation, after a patient assaulted him, causing several wounds in his body and leaving him with a broken hand.” They urged the Health Ministry and the Public Prosecution to probe the incident.
A local Arabic daily published a copy of the deceased’s death certificate, which was also circulated on social media websites. Issued by Health Ministry’s Birth and Death Registration Office and stamped by the Public Prosecution’s Physical Evidence Directorate, the certificate showed that the man’s death was due to cardiopulmonary arrest, asphyxia and strangulation.
Hospital slammed
In response to the incident, a lawmaker called for a “fundamental solution to the bitter reality of the Psychiatric Hospital.”
MP Jalal Kadhem critcised “the increasing negligence witnessed in the Psychiatric Hospital, despite the huge scientific development achieved in this medical field.”
Recalling the deceased’s death occurrence, Kadhem attributed Ibrahim’s death inside the hospital’s corridors to “carelessness and lack of services and attention to patients”. Kadhem called upon the concerned authorities to initiate immediate investigations into the case.
“We need fundamental solution to the bitter reality of the Psychiatric Hospital, its deteriorated services and the lack of medical cadres working in it. This results in depriving patients from their rights of receiving adequate diagnosis, treatments and medical attention. Negligence in the field of psychiatric care would increase chronic psychiatric patients and worsen their conditions,” Kadhem said.
He accused the Ministry of disregarding the dire need to develop the Psychiatric Hospital. “The hospital doesn’t help patients but it worsens their daily struggle. It lacks medical cadres such doctors, nurses and technicians. Yet, the Ministry chooses silence over taking action. All we have received from the Ministry is empty statements and promises,” the MP commented.
Kadhem questioned the deliberate disregard to psychiatric patients and their needs. “Is it because they (patients) can’t express their needs and requirements? Or is it because the majority of them aren’t able to pay their treatment bills, which are a big burden on the Ministry’s shoulders?” the parliamentarian added.
He demanded the Ministry to look into the requirements of the only public psychiatric hospital in the Kingdom, mentioning that the building is dilapidated and isn’t fit to accommodate patients, in addition to the urgent need of general maintenance work and installation of surveillance cameras in the facility.
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