Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Man Still in Coma After Nine Years | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat- A Saudi citizen has spent the last nine years in a coma at the King Abdulaziz Air Base hospital in Dahran, in the eastern province, because of a medical error.

Saad bin Hussain al Qahtani, son of the patient, told Asharq al Awsat, “My father suffered from a medical blunder in 1997. He was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove gallstones. My father was admitted to the operation room but doctors committed a number of mistakes which sent him into a coma.”

According to the medical report, seen by the family, al Qahtani received more anesthetic than needed and inserting the oxygen tube into his stomach, instead of the lungs. “This led to a shortage of oxygen to his brain and the degeneration of brain cells”, his son added.

After filing a complaint against the medical affairs department and doctor in charge, the son received a “letter expressing their deep sorrow for what happened”.

The family subsequently received compensation from the Prince of the eastern province, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd, as well as the doctor at fault.