Kenyatta National Hospital Boss Lily Koros Suspended After Doctors Perform Surgery on Wrong Patient

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lily Koros has been sent on a compulsory leave following a horror mix up in which brain surgery was performed on the wrong patient.

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the move to suspend Koros and the head of clinical services, Bernard Githae was to allow for probe into the mishap that has put the country's largest medical facility .

“I have directed the board that the CEO of this organisation, with the colleague responsible for clinical matters of this hospital, are sent on compulsory leave forthwith and in their place two experts will be taking over to run this institution for the period the investigations will be done and a decision reached," She said at KNH on Friday.

Appointing Dr. Mutie and Dr. Ongech to the positions on an acting capacity, Ms Kariuki said; “Both competent professionals who understand the systems in this hospital to take over and support the board to complete the investigations I have directed be conducted immediately.”

The CS said the patient was in stable condition.

"I have seen the patient who ought not to have gone through surgery. He is stable and doctors tell me he could be discharged on Monday.The second patient, who was scheduled to go for surgery is, fortunately, also stable, he has been put on treatment and is under watch.”

“I want to apologise to the patients, families and friends of these two patients particularly the one who went through operation. We will put in systems so that we do not see a repeat of this going forward,” she said.

“The mix up started at the point of dressing the patient, because the patient who was to be taken to theatre had the names but they belonged to the one who ought not to have been taken to theatre,”she said.