Medics body faulted on autopsy

L-R: Wesley Nganizi, district police commander Jinja road, Ibin Ssenkumbi, Kampala Metropolitan Police public relations officer and Hilary Kulayigye, mid-southwestern regional police commander. 

By Betty Ndagire

Lawyer of a Kampala gynaecologist, Dr Edward Tamale Ssali, has faulted the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) on the postmortem report published in connection with the death of a patient at the Women Fertility Centre in Bukoto three years ago.

Mr Macdosman Kabega produced a witness statement made by one of the relatives of the deceased (Mercy Ayiru) on Tuesday stating that they contacted Dr Sylvester Onzivua, their relative, to help in carrying out the postmortem, which is contrary to the ethical practices.

He said allowing Dr Onzivua to conduct the postmortem may have yielded to conflict of interest. However, during cross examination of the chairperson of the ethics committee in UMDPC, Dr Margaret Mungerera, told court that they were not aware that Dr Onzivua was a relative of the deceased.

The revelation was made in a case of negligence that led to death of Ayiru against Dr Ssali, the proprietor of the centre and Mr Christopher Kirunda, an anaesthetist at the facility.

Their co-accused, Dr Rafique Parker, who is based in Nairobi, has never reported to court on charges of causing the death. Dr Onzivua is also one of the prosecution witnesses who testified against Dr Ssali.

Further complaints
“Your worship even the team of six doctors who investigated what caused Ayiru’s death, none of them is a professional in laparoscopic surgery which was allegedly carried out on the deceased,” Mr Kabega argued.

Dr Ssali and Mr Kirunda yesterday appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court at Buganda Road for hearing of the case. The trial magistrate, Ms Olive Kazaarwe, extended the matter to May 31 for further hearing.