INLSA
Jemima Rohan, holds a picture of her son, Jared, taken six years ago. Picture: Terry Haywood
A Tongaaat doctor who caused the death of a four-year-old boy while treating a superficial cut to his leg, has been suspended for five years for unprofessional conduct of a “disgraceful nature” .
But for the distraught parents of Jared Nikil Rohan, this brings little relief – nothing will ever bring their son back.
Germaine and Jemima Rohan told the Daily News yesterday they believed the doctor should have been given tougher punishment. They did not attend the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) hearing because it was too painful for them to relive the events.
Earlier this week, general practitioner Dr MS Arbee pleaded guilty to inadvertently injecting a local anaesthetic into Jared’s vein while treating a superficial cut to his leg.
He also admitted to the inquiry that he had failed to consider the possibility of anaesthetic toxicity when Jared began breathing heavily, became limp and was unable to lift his head. Arbee also did not take reasonable steps after he suffered the first convulsion, and still decided to send him home after a second convulsion.
The committee found that Arbee’s plea explanation showed that he did not appreciate or recognise the gravity of the situation. He was callous in the management of the child. This ultimately led to Jared’s death.
On that evening in October 2005, Jared was playing in the yard of his Shakaskraal home when he jumped from a washing trough on to an unused fishtank.
His leg went through the glass and he sustained a 4cm superficial wound to his left calf.
He was taken to Arbee by his parents and grandfather, Bunny Perumal, 65, at 7.45pm.
At the time Perumal described how Arbee and his father (also a doctor) said they were going to Mosque and had asked them to wait until he returned at 9.30pm.
Before he left, the doctor had looked at the wound and described it as a skin laceration, saying it was not an emergency, Perumal had said.
Perumal had said Jared cried when the doctor later administered three injections for the pain. Jared became very restless and a few minutes after the injections, told them he couldn’t breathe.
“The doctor gave him eight stitches and by this time Jared had calmed down. We thought he was asleep and didn’t think anything was wrong.”
He had said while Jemima was carrying Jared back to the car, he began making a “bubbling noise” and was convulsing.
Back at the surgery the doctor told them to fan Jared, and then gave him another injection and he relaxed. A few minutes later the child convulsed again and the doctor suggested they go to a nearby hospital for oxygen.
“As I walked out with Jared in my arms his body suddenly went limp and he had another seizure. His eyes rolled and he began frothing from his mouth and nose.
“I told the doctor my grandson was dying and pleaded with him to help us. He told us not to get excited. He then asked us for a R250 consultation fee and told us to take Jared to the hospital for observation. He called the hospital and made the arrangements.”
Jared was declared dead at the hospital.
A toxicology report showed the levels of anaesthetic in Jared’s body were “very near toxic range”. The report said the cause of death “may be confidently attributed to inadvertent injection of local anaesthetic… directly into a major vein, causing convulsion, collapse and death”.
On Tuesday Rohan said the past six years had been a battle. While the verdict was not what they wanted, it would give them some closure and they could start healing.
“We have been seeking justice this entire time. We went to the police, the ICD and the courts. But little was done to help us.
“I eventually approached the HPSCA last year. Thankfully, something has come out of it. But, the reality is we will never get our son back.”
Jemima said: “We understand people make mistakes. But, up until now the doctor had not even apologised to us.
“It is so unfair that he took a life and only got a five-year suspension.”
Six year battle to get closure, says dad
Read More:
Dr suspended after killing child