Doctor facing manslaughter trial after alleged malpractice
A DOCTOR will go on trial in Panama nearly three years after the death of a patient from drugs to which he was he was allergic.
The first criminal circuit court granted the request made by the prosecutor Vielka Byrne Vargas.
The doctor is Michael Wong Tang, investigated for the alleged manslaughter, of sociologist Raúl Leis, on April 30, 2011..
Judiciary sources said that the preliminary hearing will take place January 14 when Dr. Wong Tang, will face charges of malpractice.
Sources said that the court made the decision after analyzing the request for a trial sent by prosecutor Byrne Vargas in March, blaming Dr. Wong Tang
The prosecutor alleged that after planning to operate on the patient’s eyes, the doctor prescribed drugs to which the patient was allergic. In the medical record of Leis there were no preoperative notes made by the accused doctor, and despite that the patient had a history over 60 years of pulmonary diseases, he underwent no chest X-ray.
He added that the sociologist was given two prescriptions to take the drug Voltaren.
The case file included the opinion of the Medico-Legal Council of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf), which emphasizes that the clinical history of a patient is essential to any preoperative evaluation and, in the case of Leis, there was exposure to a contraindicated drug.
The forensic report stated that anaphylactic shock is not the only effect that can be observed in a patient allergic to the drug, but can also cause inflammation of the airways, evidence found in Leis.
Mariela Leis,Arce widow of the late sociologist, believes that the news is a relief for the family, because justice will be done.
Arce said that it is time that medical malpractice is seen as a social problem affecting the country, so you should be denounced.
Leis Arce, one of the founders of the Chocolate Ribbon campaign, aimed at discovering medical malpractice cases, said such cases are under-reported, so campaigning is required.