Despite OSCA’s claim to have only used licensed practitioners, authorities have said that the organization did not have a license to perform the surgeries.
Chairman of OSCA Pham Van Ai
The Hanoi-based Centre for Researching and Aiding Operation Smile (OSCA) was originally a beauty salon. In 2011, the chairman of OSCA was prosecuted after illegally performing cosmetic surgery, which ended with a woman’s death. The Hanoi Department of Health said they gave OSCA permission for orthopedic, rehabilitation and physical therapy, but not a license for plastic surgery.
According to OSCA, the organisation was established by a government decision and licensed by the Department of Science and Technology in Hanoi. However, Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Treatment and Examination Management Department, said only central hospitals are established by government decisions, and the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology does not have authorisation to issue medical licenses.
Dr. Le Tan Phung from the Khanh Hoa Province Department of Health said they had ordered OSCA to provide licenses and a letter certifying agreement from Military Hospital 87. He said, “We received the dossier on August 22 and haven’t had the chance to review it. But on that same day, the OSCA had already carried out surgeries on the children.” He went on to say that reports from OSCA after the incident still lack details, such as a complete list of names of surgeons and anesthesiologists.
Pham Van Ai, chairman of OSCA, said after the complications on the first child, they replaced the machines and continued with the other surgeries. However, the second child also showed complications, so they changed operating rooms. Even though eight of the children came out of surgery normally, complications continued with the third child. Ai then said that the complications might be from the side effects of medications used.
Colonel Nguyen Ba Hanh, director of Military Hospital 87, said this is the second time they have cooperated with OSCA. The hospital lends out equipment and facilities while OSCA doctors perform the surgeries. The hospital has halted the programme and sealed off all evidence and equipment for the pending investigation.
Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Treatment and Examination Management Department, said problem could be with the anesthesia used.
Đăng ký: VietNam News