The Senate Committee on Monday, October 11 demanded to know the identity of the doctor who first attended to the late baby Travis at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Committee Chair Senator Jackson Mandago ordered that KNH reveals the details of the doctor who was accused of demanding a deposit from a patient brought in on an emergency with a fork jembe lodged in his skull.
The deceased's mother, Judy Muthoni, claimed that for her son to be attended to, the doctor required her to part with at least Ksh20,000.
"It is unimaginable that a patient walked into a referral hospital and waited for 14 hours. We expected that the hospital should have done better.
"The parents might not remember the identity of the doctors but we will follow with KNH leadership; they cannot say they do not know them,” Mandago stated.
Muthoni told the senators that when she arrived at the hospital, the doctor was adamant about her paying the fee and only offered to put her son on a drip after he begged for water.
"The first doctor shouted at me and asked me to pay Ksh20,500. At the time, the baby kept on asking for water because he was thirsty," she narrated amid tears.
Notably, Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa stated that the medical team at Thika Level V hospital had questions to answer.
Thang'wa fronted that an investigation should be conducted to establish whether the jembe had its handle attached to it and if its removal at the facility might have complicated the matter.
His sentiments were reiterated by nominated senator Raphael Mwinzago who questioned the need for referral to KNH, given the classification of the Thika institution.
Mwinzago pointed out that any level-five hospital should have the equipment and trained personnel to perform the surgery required.
Mandago stated that while it was too early to point a blaming finger, he assured the family that he would get to the bottom of the matter.
