NCRHA denies newspaper report, says patient refused treatment – Loop News Trinidad and Tobago

The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) has denied newspaper reports that a patient didnt receive care due to the Ministry of Health not supplying the required drugs.

In a statement, the NCRHA said Seema Abdool-Gobin, who was reportedly diagnosed with lymphoma last year, refused to undergo treatment despite pleas from doctors on several occasions.

The NCRHA said she refused, telling doctors she would seek herbal treatment instead.

The Authority provided a timeline on its attempts at medical intervention.

In May 2020, in the early onset after her diagnosis, Seema refused treatment, indicating to our specialist clinicians and physicians that she had decided to go herbal and pursue alternative medicine instead of our specialist teams medically prescribed advice.

NCRHA contacted the patient and pleaded again in September 2020, but to no avail, as she refused again.

Given the Authoritys interest in ensuring the well-being of our patients, and in sincere attempt to ensure that necessary clinical intervention was provided to prevent worsening of her condition, and the NCRHA brought in the entire family for consultation with a team of physicians in October 2020.

The NCRHA said it again begged for her to come in for treatment but her husband said at the time that they had done their own research and did not trust chemotherapy.

Prior to her return visit to the EWMSC in October, the NCRHA said medical records show that Seema visited the Couva Health Centre (SWRHA), where she was advised to go to the San Fernando General Hospital, but she insisted that she would go to EWMSC.

In fact, the Carapichaima resident, signed against clinical advice and counsel from SWRHA medical team to pursue treatment at the San Fernando General Hospital, indicating that she (preferred) to have treatment at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where she consistently refused treatment, the NRCHA noted.

It said fluid in her lungs was drained on October 18, while she was admitted.

She was also recommended for pleurodesis - a more specialised treatment utilising advanced medication to prevent increased build up fluid in the lungs thereafter.

But, she refused and subsequently during her in-patient stay, she changed her mind.

The deliberation did result in some delay, and put the intervention at a disadvantage, but we were eventually able to do the procedure, the NCRHA.

The Authority said these delays on the patients part made it increasingly difficult to sufficiently project and plan for specialised pharmaceuticals interventions that have to be ordered, as she refused treatment at practically every step of the way.

The NCRHA noted that she finally agreed to treatment at the end of October and had clinic appointments the following month.

Following a visit to the Thoracic Surgical Unit (TSU) on November 10, 2020 she confirmed that she was willing to take the medication after which the drugs were ordered, and are available.

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NCRHA denies newspaper report, says patient refused treatment - Loop News Trinidad and Tobago