Bahamas Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Michael Darville, has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the death of Kenise Darville, who died days after posting on social media, a video depicting the alleged negligence and poor healthcare she experienced at Princess Margaret Hospital.
“I was familiar with the case. I’ve seen the posting on social media and instructed the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) to do an immediate investigation into the allegations.
“I’m certain that is already being done. And in short order, the PHA and Princess Margaret Hospital will be issuing a statement once all the factual information has been obtained,” Darville told reporters.
The video has been viewed more than 200,000 times, and the family of the mother of three is demanding answers surrounding the circumstances of her death.
In the video posted on January 11, a tearful Mrs. Darville detailed what she said was her experience at the hospital, telling viewers “PMH (is) doing a whole lot of foolishness and I feel like this story just needs to get out”.
She said the doctors waited several days after she was admitted to inform her that she needed to make an urgent plea to friends and family for blood donations.
Mrs. Darville, who died on January 19, was admitted to PMH on January 2, due to unbearable pain she suffered in her lower back. She also grappled with the emotional toll of burying her mother a few days prior.
She said during her admission, she was placed in an isolation room and doctors did blood work on her and that her blood platelets were at 20,000 which is considered very low, since platelets are needed for blood to clot and to prevent bleeding. The average blood platelets count should be 150,000 to 450,000.
In the video, Mrs. Darville said she was told that blood platelets would be ordered to aid in her treatment. But she claimed one week later, she was told that healthcare staff never ordered the blood platelets.
Speaking at a news conference last Friday, her husband, Jerad Darville called for changes to be made in the healthcare system.
“You should never have to be dying and trying to find blood.
CMC/
