Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
A woman collapsed dying in her husband’s arms and begged him to save her after suffering a severe allergic reaction during an eye test.
Marina Salah Sarkis, 29, from Egypt, died due to clinical negligence while she was in a private eye clinic in Cairo, her family reportedly claim.
Husband Ramez Doss said his wife was a regular at the clinic for treatments.
The cause of death is believed to be an allergic reaction to a fluorescein angiography procedure.
The victim’s family have accused clinic staff of not performing allergy tests on Marina before the procedure.
Fluorescein angiography (FA) is a medical procedure in which fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream to highlight blood vessels in the back of the eye.
The FA test is helpful for making a diagnosis, determining a treatment plan, or for monitoring affected blood vessels.
It is normally a safe procedure, but there are some risks, including an allergic reaction.
Marina’s relatives wrote many Facebook posts telling the tragic story of her death including a desperate search for a hospital with ICU ventilators.
Marina’s husband Ramez told the local TV show ‘Ala Massoulity’ (My Responsibility) that his deceased wife ran to him and fell into his arms telling him “Ana bamout, elhaqni” (I’m dying, help me).
He told the show that he wants Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al Sisi to look into the matter and punish those responsible for her death.
The family is waiting for a medical report that explains what exactly happened.
One relative wrote: “A major medical mistake, we are waiting for the medical report, and the police was notified with the case and we proved that Marina did not undergo an allergy test.
“She was an angel and went to heaven, Lord comfort all her loved ones.”
Many Egyptians sympathized with the victim and her family and showed empathy by sharing a picture of her holding her 18-month-old son Adam.
Egypt’s Doctors Syndicate said people should wait for the official autopsy before “throwing random judgements”.
The Syndicate also added that the fluorescein used in Marina’s treatment has no recognised allergy test in any country in the world.
