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Nurses attached to skin clinic had no training
Nurses attached to the clinic where a female doctor -Dr P.A. Priyangi- of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital died during cosmetic surgery had no training, a Magistates Court was told this week,
Giving evidence at the inquiry into the death of Dr Priyangi before the Colombo Additional Magistrate, R. M. Augusta Atapattu, a nurse working at the clinic said Dr. Nimal Gamage who was running the clinic in Bambalapitiya did not inquire into their qualifications.
“The doctor did not ask for my qualifications. But I received some training under him. I have no knowledge about nerves and the nervous system. However I have injected medicines to many patients. I do it by feeling the vein,” 18-year-old K. P. Chamodi Apsara who was working as an assistant nurse at the clinic said.
She said that she had received training at the Royal Nursing Home in Navinna but hadn’t received her certificate as yet.
“I passed eight subjects at the G.C.E ‘O’ level with four credit passes. I have been trained in physical exercise and nursing care of elders, she said adding that there were four girls who were working at the clinic with her.
Ms. Chamodi added that the female doctor had been asked if she had, had any allergies before the injection was administered.
“She said no. Thereafter I mixed the medicine with 10 ml of saline and prepared the medication. The doctor injected it into the neck area.
“Following this the patient became very ill. She started coughing. The doctor ordered us to call an ambulance. He injected another medicine into the patient’s hand,” she said adding that she did not have any idea about the medication being administered and added the doctor examined the patient using a stethoscope.
She explained that when the ambulance arrived a Medical Officer rushed to the patient, examined her and pronounced her dead.
The doctor had then requested us to call the police and the grama niladhari.
She said the medicines were kept in a cupboard and she mixed some powder with saline as instructed by the doctor. She added the operation was a major surgery, where fat from the stomach was obtained to be applied to the face.
Continuing her evidence the witness said, “The apparatus was ready for surgery. After the doctor administrated the injection to her neck the patient died within 10 minutes.”
K. Harshini Ishara Kumari 23, giving evidence before the Magistrate, said she too was aiding the doctor at the clinic.
She said she had received training in first aid at the Ratmalana Kamkaru Sevana.
“My job is to give medicine on doctor’s instructions. He has informed us of the medication and injections that are used.
“Dr. Priyangi (the deceased) went for the surgery at around 1.30pm. I gave her the medicine the doctor ordered.
Chamodi prepared the medicine as instructed by the doctor,” she said.
Ms. Harshani added she had not studied any of the procedures. She said the surgery included penetrating the stomach with an aluminium sort of needle which was about one foot long and taking fat from the stomach.