ADMINISTRATORS at St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital say they have launched a probe into the death of Kenise Dunn, who died at the facility five days after giving birth.

With family demanding answers into the circumstances surrounding Dunn’s death, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dennis Morgan told the Jamaica Observer on Monday that with internal investigations ongoing the hospital is not able to provide a statement on the matter.

According to Morgan, the investigation is integral in allowing all the facts to be found and confirmed, and for the family to be given factual answers.

Morgan added that the hospital could not legally disclose information about any patient to anyone who is not listed as their next of kin, and the administrators are already in contact with the relevant family member who has been cooperative with staff as the investigation continues.

Acknowledging the concerns held by the wider family, Morgan advised other relatives of Dunn to reach out with their questions either by calling or visiting the hospital, where they will be welcomed and briefed as best as possible.

But for Kirk Hall, uncle of the deceased, information surrounding the death of Dunn is long overdue.

Hall charged that since Dunn, who he affectionately called Punky, was admitted to hospital on July 29 up until her death on Friday, August 14, the medical staff interacting with her have not been willing to provide any information.

Tearfully recounting his niece’s last days, Hall on Monday told the Observer that Dunn, who was eight months’ pregnant, complained to him on July 27 about intense stomach pains and not being able to pass her stool for at least three days.

When told of her complications, Hall referred her to the hospital for checks to rule out anything beyond simple constipation and to ensure she received the necessary treatment.

He said when checking on his niece during her stay at the hospital he was still unable to get any information from the medical personnel as to what was causing her pain.

“When she went down there she called me and said, ‘Uncle Kirk, they might have to admit me.’ Days gone by and I asked what was going on, and she said, ‘The doctors, they keep just coming and pulling blood.’ Every day they just kept pulling blood from her while her belly continued to hurt,” said Hall.

“I said, ‘Punky I know how you feel, but it soon over.’ She called me last week, Friday [August 7] morning. So all this time, from the 29th, she has been there up ‘til when she called me…nothing had been done to her,” claimed Hall.

According to Hall, the numerous blood tests she had informed him of never provided any results, and his only update was that Dunn needed to do an ultrasound at a nearby medical facility, but no ambulance was available and the hospital was short-staffed.

“She said to me, ‘Uncle Kirk, they are supposed to carry me to go do an ultrasound. I hear the nurse just come and tell me they’re short of staff so they are not going to carry me, and the ambulance is not going to work.’ So I said, ‘Punky, what do you mean by they are short of staff and don’t have an ambulance?’ I said, ‘I’m coming to you either tomorrow or Sunday,’ ” Hall added.

He told the Observer that his Sunday visit was only more worrisome as Dunn, 33, could not tell him what was wrong with her and doctors refused to speak with him.

“When I saw her, she was on the stretcher and everything, but I can tell you, she was in pain. I said, ‘Punky, what happened?’ She said, ‘Uncle Kirk, I feel pain, man. Pain, pain, pain.’ So I said, ‘What did the doctor say?’ She said, ‘I can’t talk to them no more. You go ask them, ask them what happened to me.’

“So I went to the nurse and I asked her, ‘What’s going on with her? Can I speak to the doctor behind you?’ The nurse told me to have a seat, and about 10, 15 minutes later she came back and said the doctor says my niece can talk [for herself] and I’m not the next of kin, so she can’t talk to me,’ ” relayed Hall.

Following his visit he received a call from Dunn the next day that she was being taken to have the ultrasound done. By Tuesday it was revealed to him, by a relative who he says works at the hospital, that she had given birth.

Shortly after, he said he was told by that relative that a doctor advised him that she needed emergency surgery.

According to Hall, on that day, August 9, Dunn was placed on life support.

He said doctors briefed the family that she was gravely ill, after surgery revealed a tumour believed to be cancerous that was found in her colon. Hall charged that compounding her afflictions, the doctors said they removed the colon, and two litres of stool from her body after a bowel rupture.

Dunn never recovered, passing away five days later.

Now, the family is overcome by grief and riddled with questions. Why was the family not told about the results from the blood tests or the ultrasound? Why was she allowed to give birth naturally after being admitted for constipation? Was it ever confirmed that the tumour was malignant; was there a biopsy done? Was there even, ever a tumour?

Hall’s frustration was palpable, his voice breaking as he became overcome by emotion.

“We have requested all of that. We were told on Saturday that an investigation is going to be launched. This morning [Monday], persons from the Ministry of Health reportedly went in and seized all form of records when it come to her and the doctors, whatever they said and did to her and all of that. She didn’t deserve to die like that, man. Had there been proper care and compassion she wouldn’t die, man,” charged Hall

“We are waiting with bated breath to see what the findings are, what the results are,” Hall added.