Fireman’s death not due to GPHC’s deliberate negligence, gaps to be tightened

Last Updated on Saturday, 29 March 2025, 12:31 by Writer

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Friday said the fireman who was severely injured in the Mae’s School fire earlier this month, died as a result of complications of the injuries and a long-lasting medical condition.

Voshaun Manbodh, 27, died on March 8, three days after he was injured after a section of the burning building fell on him and other colleagues who survived the mishap.

“Mr. Manbodh’s death was not solely the result of his acute injury. Rather, it was a complex complication arising from his acute trauma in conjunction with underlying chronic disease,” the State-owned hospital said in a statement.

The GPHC hinted that part of its approach to patient management led to Manbodh’s death but said those shortcomings were not deliberate. “While the findings highlight systemic gaps that contributed to this unfortunate outcome, they do not suggest intentional negligence or wrongdoing by any individual or department,” he said.

Refuting claims of negligence on the part of hospital, the GPHC said the independent investigative panel, which included external experts, found that he passed away “due to a known secondary complication of traumatic injuries—multiple bleeding ulcers.”

The hospital said the probe found no evidence to support the family’s contention that Manbodh fell off the hospital bed. “The Investigative Panel has concluded that there is no evidence that Mr. Manbodh fell from his bed, a claim that was verified by the nurses on duty and other patients in the ward at the time,” the hospital said in a statement.

While the hospital did not take full responsibility for Manbodh’s death, that healthcare institution said the investigation has provided critical insights into areas that require improvement, including clinical coordination, timely escalation of care, and the need to stick to established trauma management protocols. The probe underscored the challenges in managing “multifactorial medical conditions and the need for a comprehensive, integrated approach to patient care.”

Additionally, the GPHC said the panel’s review identified key areas for improvement in trauma management, interdisciplinary communication, documentation, and discharge protocols. The hospital said the investigators’ report cited the urgent need for structural and procedural enhancements to ensure the highest standard of patient care, strengthened patient safety and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

GPHC said it was implementing enhanced multidisciplinary communication, saying that interdisciplinary case discussions for complex trauma cases to ensure continuous collaboration between all involved medical teams would now be mandatory.

The hospital said reinforced escalation protocols would be implemented to improve monitoring and response mechanisms for changes in patient condition, and ensure timely intervention.

According to the hospital, there would be a review and update of documentation policies, including clearer referral feedback mechanisms and improved communication of critical lab values; continuous medical education sessions focusing on trauma care best practices, interdisciplinary coordination, and early complication detection, and refinement of discharge protocols to ensure that all necessary medical teams remain engaged in a patient’s care until stability is confirmed.

GPHC says it remains committed to delivering high-quality healthcare and learning from every case to improve patient outcomes. “We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the investigative panel and the dedication of our medical teams. As we move forward, we will continue to refine our clinical processes to provide the safest and most effective care possible to all patients,” the healthcare institution said.