Of Madam Swee Part II

Firstly, condolences to the family of Mdm Swee..

Brief Summary of what mdm swee's husband spoke to Channel 8 news:
1. Raffles hospital staff informed him that the hospital had ran out of blood and higher approval was needed in order to get more
2. He, together with some family and friends, anxiously went to blood bank to donate blood, but was denied entry and contact with the blood bank staff, simply because they were 10 mins early

Replies from Raffles Hospital and Bloodbank from CNA:

SINGAPORE: The woman who died after giving birth to twins over the weekend was not denied blood, and her death was not because there was insufficient blood available at the time, according to Raffles Hospital.

It explained that an emergency blood transfusion was immediately started for Madam Swee Lay Kwa when massive bleeding occurred during surgery.

More blood was also immediately obtained from the blood bank.

The hospital said Madam Swee's death was due to Disseminated Intra-vascular Coagulopathy (DIVC), an acute blood coagulation problem arising from massive bleeding and transfusion.

On Tuesday it was reported that her husband had been told by hospital staff that if the family wanted more blood, they would have to round up others to donate some at the blood bank.

But Raffles Hospital clarified while it is common practice to ask relatives and well-wishers to help replenish stock, it is never a requirement for blood to be released by the blood bank.

This is a stand supported by the blood bank.

Says Dr Diana Teo, Bloodbank@HSA, Centre for Transfusion Medicine, Health Sciences Authority, "It is not customary for the blood banks to request that hospitals ask family and friends to come forward to donate blood.

"However we do know that some hospitals do try to help the blood programme by asking some of the patients to ask their family to come and support us. But I assure you that this is never a requirement from the blood bank." - CNA/yy

My doubts:

More blood was also immediately obtained from the blood bank.
So where's the explanation about this "higher authority approval was needed for more blood? where's the clarification from raffles or bloodbank? is there such a rule? should this have been communicated to families who are anxious to save the life of a loved one?

On Tuesday it was reported that her husband had been told by hospital staff that if the family wanted more blood, they would have to round up others to donate some at the blood bank.

But Raffles Hospital clarified while it is common practice to ask relatives and well-wishers to help replenish stock, it is never a requirement for blood to be released by the blood bank.

This is a stand supported by the blood bank.

Says Dr Diana Teo, Bloodbank@HSA, Centre for Transfusion Medicine, Health Sciences Authority, "It is not customary for the blood banks to request that hospitals ask family and friends to come forward to donate blood.

"However we do know that some hospitals do try to help the blood programme by asking some of the patients to ask their family to come and support us. But I assure you that this is never a requirement from the blood bank." - CNA/yy

As far as i remember, when my grandmother was undergoing surgery when i was in primary 5, they too asked my relatives to donate blood for her surgery.. and so my father and cousin went on to donate blood.. so is a non-compulsory gesture that was projected as a requirement?

Would Mdm Swee's family and friends willingly donate their blood to the blood bank if the hospital said "pls support the blood bank as your relative/friend might need more blood during the surgery?" What a lame excuse to brush it off
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How this family was handled by this hospital and the bloodbank is simply disgusting.. had Mdm Swee been someone of "more importance", i'm sure she would be accorded more help and her family treated with better PR amid the chaos.. but no.. and who is to judge who is important or not? You might not give a damn to my family, but they are the most precious to me, same goes to Mdm Swee and her family

This issue involves the blood bank and a hospital, why hasn't the Health Minister come out to promise any investigation? What do i feel this lack of concern for the common folks and for a family that has lost a member? How do the father explain to the 4 kids in later life what really happened to their mother?






This is disgusting, absolutely disgusting