Xechem International Inc. (fka XKEM)

[TheRaveninexile]

For many of us here the ultimate goal is to ensure that incidences like these world wide end. If Dr. Swift had been doing his job and word of Nicosan had actually gotten to the people this might have been a preventable death. Think of all the thousands of people who have died over the previous 19 months because they were not allowed to know that Nicosan existed? Why was there no one out there promoting this drug to the greater world let alone in Nigeria where it is becoming more and more obvious that the public has no real working knowledge of?

I keep going back to the statement made by one of the scientists that LMF spoke to who said something about being able to once again dream about Nicosan. That is such a sad statement that he had given up hope of it coming to the people. He shouldn't have to dream about something that already exists~!

Read the article and think about the tens of thousands who have died in just the same manner world wide, every day, every year. There is no justifiable excuse for the way this drug was taken down.



Beds crisis victim 'was in great pain'

MANAMA

Feb. 3, 2009

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=241928&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31320




A SICKLE cell anaemia patient, who died at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) last Sunday after allegedly not being accommodated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), writhed in pain for several hours and then collapsed, his ward mates said yesterday.

They claimed it took the cardio vascular resuscitation (CPR) team more than 20 minutes to arrive on the scene to try and revive Jaffer Mohammed Ahmed's life, but by that time it was too late.

One of the patients, who identified himself only as Hussein and was in the adjoining bed, said "all hell then broke loose" as the team members tried in vain to resuscitate Mr Ahmed.

"He was very uncomfortable that night after his condition deteriorated," said Hussein.

"The whole night he was screaming in pain and pulling at the wires attached to his body.

"The nurses repeatedly tried to calm him without success and called for a doctor."

He claimed that when a doctor did arrive at around 4am, he recommended Mr Ahmed be admitted to the ICU.

"Just moments later we heard the nurses say there was no room there, after which there was a lot of commotion among his family members," said Hussein.

"A few minutes later, he collapsed and the CPR team was summoned."

He said the first member of the team arrived in five minutes and tried administering CPR on his own. "The whole team assembled around 20 minutes later, but by then it was too late," said Hussein.

Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care chairman Zakareya Ebrahim Alkadhem confirmed the incident and said he had taken it up with SMC authorities.

"As usual, they have said they would investigate, but that is nothing new," he said.

An Accident and Emergency Department doctor, who would not be named, said a CPR team, consisting of between five and seven people, should be in position "within minutes".

"Many a time, due to a poor communication system within the hospital, this does not happen," he told the GDN.

"However, all nurses and other staff on duty are trained professionals and should be able to manage till expert help arrives."

Mr Ahmed became the fifth Bahraini to die since the start of the year as a result of a bed crisis at SMC.

The Karzakhan resident was taken to the hospital last Wednesday with acute pain in his legs. He lay in the department for the whole day, but a bed was found for him in Ward 65 later than night.

He was moved to Ward 61 last Saturday, but when his condition deteriorated rapidly a day later, doctors reportedly recommended he should be transferred to the ICU.

His elder brother, Hussain Mohammed Ahmed said the family was in misery the night before he died. "None of us wanted to go home because we felt something was going to happen to our brother. We kept waiting for doctors to come, but they never did," he said.

"When one did come, he immediately said the patient should be moved to the ICU. We were then told there was no bed. This is not an excuse. We will take it up with the ministry."

Other patients with similar conditions, Ali Mohammed, 55, died on January 3; Zahra'a Umm Fadel Al Kabaz, 53, on January 9; and Rabab Abdul Karim, 41, on January 20; due to the beds shortage.

Another patient, aged 10, died because no beds were available in the ICU, but his parents have requested anonymity.

SMC chief of medical staff Dr Amin Al Sa'ati could not be reached for comment yesterday, but he said in a statement that the authorities were "distressed" at the situation and were doing their best to work out a solution.

"We are getting a spate of complaints and accusations, but we recommend all these should be addressed to the proper authorities. All complaints will be speedily investigated," he said. [e-mail]