Senate's Standing Committee on Health has found Kenyatta National Hospital liable for negligence in the death of Baby Travis Maina on October 11, 2022.
The Committee chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago found that the referral hospital took approximately 18 hours before moving the minor to the theatre for an operation.
"There was an avoidable delay of at least twelve and a half hours from the time that the late Master Travis was admitted in KNH (6.55 pm on 10th October 2022), to the point a decision was reached to take him to the theatre (i.e. approx. 7:30 am on 11th October 2022)," Mandogo notes in the committee's report.
He said the delay was occasioned by the need to stabilise his hemoglobin level and clotting time.
The committee, however, noted in its report that based on evidence adduced by Prof. Walter Mwanda, the Consultant Hematologist, Travis could still have been operated on with blood transfusion being carried out intraoperatively, provided an ICU bed was made available.
"A further five hours were lost from the time the patient was deemed stable for surgery (7:30 am) to the time the patient was transferred to the theatre and the procedure commenced (12:30 pm)," Mandago said.
He said there was no evidence that the delay was occasioned by a demand by the hospital for Travis' mother to pay Sh20,500 deposit before her son could be attended to.
"However, it was noted that it was possible that the demand for the payment of the Sh20,500 had been made by a rogue person or staff, and that this demand was outside the official hospital policy."
Mandago said due to the prolonged delay, Travis succumbed in the theatre at 2:55pm on October 11, 2022.
A post-mortem performed by Government Pathologist on October 18, 2022, established the cause of death as fatal raised intracranial pressure secondary to penetrating brain injury caused by a fork jembe.
"Based on the foregoing, amongst others, the Committee recommended that Kenyatta National Hospital be investigated by the relevant health regulatory bodies for culpability in the wrongful death of the late Master Travis Maina owing to proof of medical negligence at the facility," Mandago said.
Timeline of Master Travis last moments
The committee found that Travis sustained the injuries on October 10, 2022, at approximately 12pm after he was accidentally struck on the left side of his head with a fork jembe by his elder brother.
He was first attended to at Ndula Medical Center, a private facility at 2pm, approximately two hours after he had sustained his injuries.
After basic first aid, he was transported by private means to Thika Level 5 Hospital where he arrived at 3.15 pm, more than three hours since he had first sustained his injuries.
He was put on emergency treatment consisting of anticonvulsants, analgesia and medication to reduce brain edema.
Owing to the lack of requisite pediatric neurosurgical capacity at the hospital, a decision to refer him to KNH was reached at 4.25pm after X-ray and CT scan results showed a penetrating injury to the left side of his brain.
He was then transferred to an ambulance for departure to KNH by 5.13pm.
He arrived at KNH's Accident and Emergency Department at 6.03 pm and was handed over by 6.49 pm.
He was immediately admitted to Resuscitation Room A (RRA) at the Accident and Emergency where he was reviewed by a Resident Neurosurgeon at 6.55 pm.
Treatment consisting of IV fluids, antibiotics, pain medication and anticonvulsants was initiated.
However, a decision to transfer him to the theatre was deferred to 7.30am the next day - October 11, 2022.
Doctors cited deranged clotting time and low haemoglobin (Hb levels).
A further five hours were lost from the time he was deemed stable for surgery (7.30am) to the time he was transferred to the theatre and the procedure commenced 12.30 pm.
Travis succumbed to his injuries in the theatre at 2.55 pm on October 11, 2022.