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‘Deceased did not follow doctor’s advice’

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti has clarified news circulating on social communication media platforms about the death of an Egyptian who refused to complete treatment in Amiri Hospital.

In a press statement, Al-Shatti pointed out the ministry has no responsibility over the incident as the deceased decided to cut short his treatment and did not follow the doctor’s advice. He revealed that a few days prior to the incident, the Emergency Section received the Egyptian and after undergoing several tests, it was discovered that the patient needed cardiac catheterization operation.

After informing the patient, the latter requested to be discharged without even discussing the fee which does not exceed KD 90, contrary to claims that the patient had to pay KD 2,000. He affirmed acting Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi has given instruction to exempt patients in critical condition from medical fees and it has been implemented since the new fees took effect.

Meanwhile, ministry sources who deal with patients in hospitals and health centers daily confirmed that since the new health fees took effect in October, the Emergency Section has been registering scores of pledges to clear its responsibility over patients who wish to be discharged.

Sources added the section receives patients in critical condition daily and these patients must be admitted but while doctors are taking the necessary procedures, some patients decided not to complete the treatment due to the charges.

These patients refused to be admitted to the hospital and they signed an official pledge that clears the hospital or health center of any responsibility towards the decision taken by the patients and the repercussions, sources disclosed.

Sources pointed out many patients prefer to get discharged bearing responsibility for the repercussions of their decision rather than paying hundreds of Kuwaiti dinars for an emergency operation or spending several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while some have opted to complete the treatment in their countries

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah Staff