The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the Health Inspectorate (IGZ) have “shockingly failed” to clarify the circumstances which led to the permanent physical and mental disability of a baby which underwent surgery at the UMCG.

This is the conclusion reached by the National Ombudsman in his report on the case of one-and-a-half year old baby Jelmer who was admitted to the UMCG in 2007 for a bowel operation which resulted in brain damage. This left him seriously disabled both physically and mentally. When the parents demanded to know the exact cause of the brain damage, both the medical center and the inspectorate consistently refused to provide information.

In his report, National Ombudsman Alex Brenninkmeijer writes that the hospital had operated in a “cold, aloof and even calculating way.” He characterised IGZ’s performance as “so dysfunctional as to defy any description.” The Ombudsman said that in all his dealings with the government he had never before encountered such dysfunctional behaviour.

Secret Reports
The hospital has refused to hand over to Ombudsman Brenninkmeijer the results of an internal investigation which could possibly have clarified what went wrong.

"When it is the case that doctors and hospitals as professionals are unwilling to provide information about their actions, and only do so in secret reports which are never released, then I have to ask: what about the professionalism of doctors and hospitals? I have very serious reservations about the issue.”

Patients' interests
"I am structurally concerned about the performance of the health inspectorate," Brenninkmeijer says. “They lend a sympathetic ear to hospitals and specialists, totally ignoring patients’ interests.”

Brenninkmeijer wants the UMCG and the IGZ to - belatedly - provide all the information to the parents and offer them appropriate compensation. The National Ombudsman says there are at least 25 similar cases in the Netherlands.

Baby Jelmer
After his 2007 operation, baby Jelmer developed complications. He turned red in the face and started rolling his eyes. Both doctors and nurses said there was no need to worry because it was probably just bowel cramps as a result of surgery. Later that night Jelmer’s condition deteriorated and he was in critical condition. CAT scans showed only very limited brain activity.

The IGZ launched an investigation and three-and-a-half years later published a critical report. The inspectorate concluded that both the UMCG and the anaesthetist had made serious mistakes in Jelmer’s treatment. For unknown reasons, the initial report was withdrawn four months later and replaced with a final report drafted by a different inspector who was never involved in the investigation.

Serious doubts
The new report states that no mistakes were made. The brain damage suffered by Jelmer was reportedly the result of his pre-existing condition which made the operation necessary in the first place. The Ombudsman says he seriously doubts the accuracy of this version of events.

The IGZ released a statement on Thursday in which it admits the National Ombudsman’s harsh judgement was justified. The UMCG hospital, on the other hand, announced it would make an appointment to meet with Jelmer’s parents but declined to comment on whether they would offer their apologies as demanded by the Ombudsman.

(gsh/rk/imm)