Hospital deaths in Rabat unrelated to oxygen malfunction, Ministry confirms

Hospital deaths in Rabat unrelated to oxygen malfunction, Ministry confirms
Sunday 15 December 2024 - 14:04

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued a statement Saturday refuting claims that a technical malfunction in the oxygen supply system at Moulay Youssef Hospital in Rabat led to the deaths of four patients.

An investigation conducted by a team of experts, including medical professionals and technical specialists, found no evidence linking the deaths to the oxygen supply disruption. 

The inquiry revealed that the patients succumbed to pre-existing medical conditions that necessitated their intensive care treatment for over two weeks.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, when a technical malfunction briefly interrupted the main oxygen supply lines at 10:40 AM. 

However, hospital staff immediately implemented contingency measures, using portable oxygen cylinders to ensure uninterrupted oxygen delivery to all patients in the affected unit. 

The main oxygen supply was restored within 40 minutes of the initial disruption.

The Ministry emphasized that the two deaths recorded on December 10 occurred several hours after the technical malfunction and were directly attributed to the patients’ underlying health conditions.

The Ministry of Health extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and reiterated its commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to all citizens.

It’s worth noting that a previous report by Hespress indicated that a committee from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has initiated an investigation into the deaths of four patients at Moulay Youssef Hospital in Rabat. 

The initial reports suggested that human error may have played a role in these fatalities.

A source told Hespress hat the four patients, all residing in the hospital’s intensive care unit, died unexpectedly on Tuesday night. 

These deaths were reportedly attributed to a combination of a power outage and a subsequent oxygen shortage.

Hespress sources have corroborated the initial reports, confirming that human error was a contributing factor to the tragic incident. 

In response, the Ministry of Health promptly dispatched a team to the hospital on Thursday to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

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