By Dennis Wong 

KUCHING, MALAYSIA: After breaking his wrist in a fall at school, Mohamad Hadri Hasbi, 14, required a routine orthopaedic surgery to have a metal rod inserted in his arm.

But what should have been a straightforward surgical procedure somehow went horribly wrong. The teenager lost his life.

It all began when the Form Two student of SMK Bandar Kuching No. 2, here, injured himself while at school on June 17.

After assessing his condition, Mohamad Hadri's teachers rushed him to Tanah Puteh Clinic, which referred him to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further treatment.

Mohamad Hadri was admitted to the orthopaedic ward for four days and was scheduled for surgery on June 21.

However, when it was later discovered that no operating slots were available on that day, he had to be discharged and referred to Serian Hospital on June 23, where surgery was scheduled for the following day.

Mohamad Hadri had his operation as scheduled on June 24. But not long after the procedure, his heart suddenly stopped beating. The boy was rushed to SGH, but despite numerous attempts by the medical staff, Mohamad Hadri could not be revived. He was pronounced dead at 6.40pm.

A post-mortem was conducted at the SGH mortuary yesterday which determined the cause of death as malignant hypothermia, or severe allergic reaction to anaesthetics.

Mohamad Hadri's father, Hasbi Bujang, 34, expressed shock over his death and said he would proceed with legal action if hospital negligence was a factor in his eldest son's death.

"I never expected my son to die due to simple surgery.

"I want the hospital to conduct a detailed investigation. If this can happen to my son, imagine what else could happen if this is swept under the carpet," said Hasbi at the SGH mortuary yesterday.

SGH director Dr Zulkifli Jantan said a full probe into the incident was being carried out.

When contacted by the New Straits Times, a hospital source explained that allergic reactions, though very rare, can occur and are often untreatable.

"Malignant hypothermia can be a life-threatening reaction to some anaesthetic agents.

"The symptoms are extremely high fever, a high heart beat rate and severe metabolic acidosis, all of which occurred in this case."

New Straits Times/Asia News Network