Hospitals NassauA U.S. citizen was reportedly the victim of medical malpractice at a large public hospital (Princess Margaret) in Nassau, Bahamas and is now telling the world about his ordeal.

As explained in a local Fox News station and in a gofundme page, Jake Tyler (Beiersdorf), a young man from Minnesota, traveled to Nassau in January of this year to work at an annual poker tournament. After he experienced severe pain in his right lower flank, he was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where he reportedly faced a medical nightmare. Here is what the online information contends happened:

Jake "waited 14 hours until they finally decided that he had a ruptured appendix and needed surgery. They opened him up down the center of his abdomen from his breastbone to the top of his groin. Following the surgery they thought it was best to leave him unstitched . . . for the next 4 (yes, FOUR) days. That Monday they finally gave him just 13 loosely sewn, superficial epidermal stitches (with several open gaps remaining and where at least 35-45 staples were required), and zero inner stitches reattaching the fascia (muscle and fat layer) within- which helps keep ones ‘insides" from basically falling out."  

After this ill-conceived surgery, Jake was reportedly sent to a "(filthy) communal room" with many other patients where his friend reportedly came to see him and witnessed "unbelievable unsanitary surroundings. It was just plain gross . . ."

His friend obtained his eventual discharge but had to return him to Princess Margaret for a final checkup and determination whether he was fit to fly back to the U.S. His checkup was held in what is described as an "unsanitary storage closet with random items strewn everywhere."

Once back in the U.S., he underwent emergency surgery where it was discovered that the surgeons in the Bahamas did not stitch the muscle layer beneath his skin and did not even remove his appendix (which had not ruptured as they claimed).

If you are an ill or injured cruise passenger (like in a moped accident or taken from a cruise ship) in Nassau, you do not want anyone to take you to the Princess Margaret hospital!  We have heard complaints from many cruise passengers over the years who have ended up there. There is a saying in the Bahamas that Princess Margaret hospital is "the reason local Bahamians pray not to get sick."   

It is better to use travel insurance and get back to the U.S. As a last resort, be prepared to pull out your credit card and be admitted to a private hospital (like Doctors Hospital) in Nassau which may be inferior to U.S. standards but is a definite step above what you will experience at Princess Margaret.  

March 9, 2016 Update: The Nassau Guardian published an article today about this story, stating that the Public Hospitals Authority and the Princess Margaret Hospital will be investigating the allegations. 

March 10, 2016 Upgrade: The public hospital denied everything today, except admitting that Mr. Beiersdorf was not seen for an extraordinary period of time according to the Nassau Guardian. A well known local Bahamian surgeon not involved in the medical case claims: " . . .  very scurious allegations defame the professional integrity of an entire institution, a number of medical professionals and a country as a whole." My thoughts?  Denial and misplaced patriotism.  

 

Video: Article and video Fox9  

Map credit:  Google

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