DUBAI // Two nurses testified today that they knew of no "do not resuscitate order" issued by the former intensive-care unit chief at Rashid Hospital, who has been accused with another doctor of killing a quadriplegic patient.
EA, Austrian, is one of two doctors charged with the premeditated murder of Ghulam Mohammed in February 2009. They left him to die after shutting down his life-support system, refusing to revive him after a heart attack and instructing other medical staff not to do so, prosecutors say.
They denied the charges. The Indian doctor MA, 49, who was the intensive-care unit's attending physician on the day Mr Mohammed died, is accused of refusing to resuscitate him on instructions from EA.
"No, I did not issue a DNR order," the Austrian doctor, EA, 50, said.
However, Rashid Hospital's intensive-care unit consultant, Ashraf Mahmood Al Houthy, an Egyptian, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance today that there was a DNR order for Mr Mohammed issued by EA.
"I don't imagine any doctor would have the intention to kill a patient," Dr Al Houthy, 51, testified.
Dr Al Houthy was the head of a medical committee formed by Rashid Hospital to internally investigate the the incident.
A 40-year-old nurse told Judge Fahmy Mounir Fahmy that he did not receive any DNR orders from EA, but said that when MR Mohammed's condition deteriorated, MA refused to resuscitate him.
"Between 3:20 and 3:52 that day, MA did not do anything to resuscitate the patient, who then died," the nurse said.
Another nurse said she was not present on the day Mr Mohammed died, but had attending to him before his death. She said that he had already suffered six strokes, but that she did not know of any DNR orders from EA.
EA's lawyer had earlier asked that the two medical reports submitted by the Dubai Health Authority be examined by a federal entity.
"Your honour, federal laws are higher than local ones. Therefore, I kindly request that the two medical reports submitted in this case, which should be dealt with as a medical error, not murder, be revised by the medicine faculty at Emirates University and be signed by its dean," Ibrahim Al Mulla said.
The two doctors were investigated by a medical committee at Rashid Hospital, which found them liable. The committee deemed their actions illegitimate and in violation of Dubai Health Authority regulations, and referred them to the Dubai Public Prosecution for criminal investigation.
Dr Al Houthy told prosecutors EA had violated professional responsibility.
"The orders issued verbally and backed up by written instruction violated the medical practice code followed in Dubai, as the patient was conscious and not clinically dead," he said.
Euthanasia is illegal under UAE federal law, and doctors are required to revive patients regardless of the patients' wishes; DNR protocols are invalid here.
In May, the Dubai Health Authority rejected a request from several doctors to allow euthanasia. The ruling said ending a human life was not permissible.
The next hearing will be on October 16.
salamir@thenational.ae
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
