An update on the snake bite; the boy's bite marks didn't stop bleeding and he got transferred to our referral centre. Sadly he arrived at 4.15pm and although the consultant on-call rapidly recognised it as a boomslang bite, requiring specialist antivenom from Jo'burg, he did not recieve it, as the antivenom can only be ordered from 8am-4pm. He died at 3am. The next day I had a long conversation with the consultant about the case, which started off as an enquiry in to why I hadn't transferred the patient earlier and/or faster (for the record I had discussed it with the specialist hospital who whilst advising me on treatments wouldn't allow a transfer until the Monday). The conversation ended as an educational session for me on snake bites.
But it made me question who was ultimately responsible for the mismanagement of the case; should I really be here, not having the appropriate medical knowledge for the area, or should the hospital, knowing that they have an overseas doctor here who is inexperienced in snake bites, ensure that they educate me on it?
Ultimately a 15 year old boy has died, despite appropriately seeking medical advice. And personally I feel terribly responsible.
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