Findings of investigations into death of Fourth COVID patient will be made public
Investigations into the 34-year-old woman who allegedly died due to negligence has neither been dropped nor stopped. Additionally, neither the government nor the ministry of health is involved in the investigations, whose findings will soon be out. The investigation, which is conducted by the Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC), an independent authority will be made public and if there are people at fault, they will be dealt with according to the rule of law.
These were the messages passed by Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo and the Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Lotay Tshering, on questions asked about the investigations during Meet the Press on May 6, 2022.
According to the Health Minister, on February 17, within less than two weeks after the woman’s death, an independent inquiry committee, consisting representatives from various agencies was constituted. However, the lockdown between the period and now impeded the investigation. Lyonpo informed that the inquiry committee conducted their investigation and the findings were presented on April 21 to the professional and ethic subcommittee. The subcommittee is currently deliberating on it, after which the findings will be presented to the ministry.
Additionally, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said that the government investigated the medical management and hotel services and amenities immediately following the death. He said that while the main grievances, as per media reports were failure of hotel to provide essential facilities, the PM personally spoke with the owner.”He showed me images of the room and their facilities, and they were just as they should be in a three star hotel,” the PM said. Nonetheless, the PM informed the media the committee’s report will be released shortly, and that neither the health nor the government is involved in the investigation, which is done by the Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC), an independent authority.
“The council will make the reports public. If someone is at fault, it will be dealt with according to the law. I cannot accept any justification for death
from anyone who is at fault if the investigations points out the shortcomings,” the PM said.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old woman was referred from Phuentsholing to Thimphu on January 27, 2022. She died early next morning. The woman was a renal patient who was on dialysis.
While the ministry stated that the women succumbed to cardiac complications due to underlying kidney disease aggravated by COVID-19 infection, the husband of the deceased alleged they did not receive help on time. He also complained that they did not have basic necessities like enough blankets, including health assistance in the hotel, which led to the death.
Investigations into the 34-year-old woman who allegedly died due to negligence has neither been dropped nor stopped. Additionally, neither the government nor the ministry of health is involved in the investigations, whose findings will soon be out. The investigation, which is conducted by the Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC), an independent authority will be made public and if there are people at fault, they will be dealt with according to the rule of law.
These were the messages passed by Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo and the Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Lotay Tshering, on questions asked about the investigations during Meet the Press on May 6, 2022.
According to the Health Minister, on February 17, within less than two weeks after the woman’s death, an independent inquiry committee, consisting representatives from various agencies was constituted. However, the lockdown between the period and now impeded the investigation. Lyonpo informed that the inquiry committee conducted their investigation and the findings were presented on April 21 to the professional and ethic subcommittee. The subcommittee is currently deliberating on it, after which the findings will be presented to the ministry.
Additionally, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said that the government investigated the medical management and hotel services and amenities immediately following the death. He said that while the main grievances, as per media reports were failure of hotel to provide essential facilities, the PM personally spoke with the owner.”He showed me images of the room and their facilities, and they were just as they should be in a three star hotel,” the PM said. Nonetheless, the PM informed the media the committee’s report will be released shortly, and that neither the health nor the government is involved in the investigation, which is done by the Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC), an independent authority.
“The council will make the reports public. If someone is at fault, it will be dealt with according to the law. I cannot accept any justification for death
from anyone who is at fault if the investigations points out the shortcomings,” the PM said.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old woman was referred from Phuentsholing to Thimphu on January 27, 2022. She died early next morning. The woman was a renal patient who was on dialysis.
While the ministry stated that the women succumbed to cardiac complications due to underlying kidney disease aggravated by COVID-19 infection, the husband of the deceased alleged they did not receive help on time. He also complained that they did not have basic necessities like enough blankets, including health assistance in the hotel, which led to the death.
