GEORGE TOWN – A 63-year-old man from Tg Bungah died from Covid-19 last week, but his family is claiming that he was misdiagnosed by a doctor at a private clinic.
The doctor diagnosed the victim as having a bout of the cold.
In an interview with The Vibes, the family said the deceased visited the clinic on February 5 as he had a fever and sore throat.
The doctor in charge administered medication and antibiotics, without suggesting a Covid-19 test.
The victim completed the antibiotic course but failed to recover, so he contacted the medical practitioner for another consultation.
The doctor prescribed another round of antibiotics, again, allegedly without even consulting the victim.
Things went south on February 12, when the victim started experiencing breathing difficulties in the middle of the night.
He was then taken to Penang Hospital by ambulance where a Covid-19 test was done.
He tested positive, and was wheeled into intensive care later that evening.
The next day, the hospital reported that the victim’s lungs and kidneys were failing.
The man was put on high ventilation to assist his breathing, but his lungs were not functioning well and he died two days after being admitted.
His family members, except his wife, have tested positive for Covid-19.
His daughter is currently in the same hospital, and both his son and son-in-law have been placed in a low-risk Covid-19 centre.
The clinic was shut down for sanitisation in November last year after it was discovered that a patient there had contracted the coronavirus. This is its second case.
An employee confirmed hearing of such a case, but said the patient was asymptomatic during the first visit so there was no recommendation for a test.
State Health director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib said the claim will be investigated.
Penang Private Medical Practitioners’ Society president Dr Parmjit Singh said it is tough for doctors to determine if a patient has the virus or not due to the symptoms being associated with flu.
Clinics can, however, refer suspected cases for tests, he said, adding that society wants a detailed investigation to be conducted on the matter.
“It is permissible for doctors to advise patients to undergo a Covid-19 test.
“If they detect any symptom – especially if the patient is a close contact of a positive case or is in the same locality as Covid-19 clusters, especially red zones – just get tested as a precaution.”
Parmjit said his standard advice to any patient with flu symptoms is that if they do not recover within a few days, then they should get themselves tested.
He urged the public to get tested even if they are healthy as the virus can be asymptomatic for some and deadly for others. – The Vibes, February 16, 2021
