Universal Medical defends treatment of 4-yr-old Avan

Universal Medical College Hospital in Dhaka has denied allegations of medical negligence in the death of four-year-old Waiz Kuruni Avan, who was suffering from dengue shock syndrome, saying doctors made every possible effort to save the child until the end.

In a statement, the hospital said Avan was brought to the hospital on the night of September 28 with fever and bleeding from the nose. Following initial tests and suspicion of hemorrhagic dengue, he was admitted to the paediatric ward. Antibiotics were started after subsequent tests detected a bacterial infection.

According to the hospital, although the dengue test was negative, the results of several tests, including CRP, ferritin, procalcitonin, SGPT and SGOT, were clinically consistent with dengue extended syndrome. Treatment was continued accordingly.

The hospital said Avan’s vital signs began to deteriorate gradually after the evening of October 1. Professor Dr Mahfuza Shirin then decided to transfer him to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for close monitoring. However, the hospital claimed that the child’s mother was initially reluctant to move him to the PICU.

On the morning of October 2, as the child’s blood pressure dropped further, fluids were administered in the ward. After examining him again at noon, Professor Mahfuza Shirin advised immediate transfer to the PICU. Following consent from the family, Avan was shifted to the PICU around 4pm.

The hospital said he was given necessary treatment to control his blood pressure, including Hartsol, Plasmasol, dobutamine and noradrenaline. However, his condition continued to deteriorate.

On the morning of October 3, elevated levels of troponin-I and pro-BNP led doctors to consider the possibility of myocarditis, following which IVIG and methylprednisolone were administered.

Later that day, around 3:30pm, his respiratory condition worsened and he was placed on ventilator support. A central venous (CV) line was also inserted. He subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest, and doctors attempted to restore his heartbeat through CPR. However, all life-saving efforts failed, and Avan died at 5:02pm.

The hospital claimed that the child’s mother had been informed at different stages of treatment about his deteriorating condition and the possibility that he might require life support at any time. It said necessary consent signatures had also been obtained from the family.

The hospital further said all printed investigation reports and the death certificate were handed over to the family after the child’s death.

Meanwhile, Universal Medical College Hospital alleged that fragmented and misleading information about Avan’s death was being circulated on social media in an attempt to incite public anger against the doctors and the hospital. It also claimed that some Facebook posts had openly called for a mob to gather at the hospital.

The hospital said such misinformation and threats of violence not only put doctors and healthcare workers at risk but could also have a negative impact on the country’s healthcare system.

While describing the death of a child as deeply painful, the hospital urged people not to form public opinion based on fragmented information and said the matter should instead be assessed on the basis of medical facts and evaluations by the relevant authorities.

It also called for prompt measures to ensure a safe working environment for doctors and healthcare workers.