Sunday, August 6 2006

The husband of a crippled Gasparillo woman who was discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital, (SFGH), with a intravenous needle embedded in her forearm has signalled his intention to initiate legal action against the medical institution.

Last Thursday, Joyce Webb, 66, was discharged from the hospital after spending eight days undergoing treatment for an injury to her left leg.

However, when she was brought to her Bonne Aventure Main Road, Gasparillo home, her 91-year-old husband, Donald Dick, discovered the needle still stuck in her arm.

A nurse from the Gasparillo Health Centre was sent to extract the needle, but left after Dick requested that the needle be left with him.

Contacted yesterday, Dick said after no further contact with hospital personnel, he had extracted the needle.

“I said my prayers and asked the Almighty to stop the bleeding and I took out the needle,” he said.

Dick said since the story of his wife appeared in yesterday’s Newsday, a number of doctors and lawyers had telephoned his residence offering their services.

“But I giving them, (SWRHA), until Monday morning, and if they don’t call to talk about this, then I will get some kind of legal action against them,” he said.

He said his wife, who remains completely bedridden after suffering a stroke two years ago, seems to be recovering from her leg injury.

“I just want justice from the hospital for what they did to my wife,” he ended.