Ref: 33/2014
Date: 17 March 2014
Time: 12:15 GMT
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls for investigating the death of ‘Ali Mohammed Jom’aah Qannan (25), from al-Namsawi area in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, after he had undergone two surgeries: an appendectomy surgery and a partial colectomy surgery at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. PCHR also demands publishing the investigation’s results and taking necessary legal measures in this regard. Qannan passed away on Saturday morning, 15 March 2014, after he had been admitted into the hospital on 09 March 2014 to undergo an appendectomy surgery decided by the doctors as the patient was suffering from acute appendicitis. On 14 March 2014, the doctors had to put him into a partial colectomy surgery and he continued to suffer till he passed away at approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 15 March 2014.
According to the PCHR’s follow-up and the statement of the young man’s brother, Khalil (46), to a PCHR fieldworker, on Sunday, 09 March 2014, ‘Ali Qannan was taken from his house to Naser Hospital as he was suffering from severe colic. The doctors diagnosed him with an acute appendicitis that needed a removal surgery. His brother added that 4 doctors conducted the surgery which lasted for about two hours and a half though it usually takes an hour to perfrom such surgery as doctors told him. He said that a doctor who scrubbed in the surgery told him that it took such long time because the appendix was not in its natural place as it was attached to the liver. The deceased was admitted into the Surgery Department at the hospital for follow-up. The deceased’s brother stated further that his brother did not wake up from anesthesia after 4 hours as usual, but after more than 6 hours. His health condition was very bad as he was vomiting during the three days and suffered from abdominal distention without any explanation given by the doctors. He added that at approximately 12:00 on Friday, 14 March 2014, his brother was taken to undergo another surgery as doctors came out after 6 hours with parts of the colon, which was rotted, and told him that his brother’s condition is stable now. He was then admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for follow-up. He added that he asked the doctor on duty in the Surgery Department at approximately 22:00 on the same day about his brother’s condition and if he was a need to transfer him to a hospital in Israel or abroad. The doctor told him that his brother’s condition was stable. At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 15 March 2014, Khalil and his brothers were informed of the death of their brother and his body was transferred to the Forensic Department and examined by a coroner. Qannan said that his family members were told that he died as a result of blockage in the pulmonary veins leading to the heart and lungs in addition to black marks in the intestines. The family of the victims is still waiting to receive the Forensic Department’s official report.
Dr. Jamal al-Hams, Director-General of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, stated to a PCHR fieldworker that the deceased patient underwent an appendectomy surgery as he suffered from an acute appendicitis, following medical tests and the approval of his family to perform the surgery. Dr. al-Hams added that the surgery took more time than usual due to the anatomical position of the appendix as it was found in a place adjacent to the liver unlike its normal place in the lower right area of the abdomen. Dr. al-Hams further said that the deceased was kept in the hospital for follow-up for 5 days and then it was decided to perform another surgery for him in the colon as they found out a blockage in the intestines. They removed part of it as it was rotten. Dr. al-Hams added that at approximately 07:40 on Saturday, 15 March 2014, the doctors decided to remove respirator and the aesthetic solution after being certain that the patient’s vital signs are normal. Dr. al-Hams said that the deceased’s heart suddenly stopped for 20 minutes at approximately 08:00 on the same day and his pulse gradually decreased from 140 beats per minute to 0. Despite all attempts to revive him, all attempts failed and the patient died.
In view of the above, PCHR demands:
