March 31 ,2021
had failed to notify doctors, family say
An Orealla man is now dead after reportedly swallowing his dentures while on the operating table at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
According to the relatives of Vincent Miguel, 42, he did not tell medical professionals about the dentures before the surgery.
Miguel was taken to the Springlands Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where it was expected that he would undergo surgery to remove an object from his arm last Friday.
However, a relative told Stabroek News that during the surgery the dentures came loose, went down Miguel’s throat and lodged in his trachea for some time. According to the relative, it is suspected that Miguel’s lungs collapsed, however, he added that a post-mortem examination will have to be done so as to definitively determine the cause of death.
The relative also pointed out that Miguel was questioned before surgery and claimed to the doctor that he did not have any dentures.
Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday for a comment on the matter and to ascertain whether an investigation is going on, Regional Health Officer Vishalya Sharma indicated that she was in a meeting and would return a call to Stabroek News. However, up to press time this was not done.
