Medical Error Ends Young Girl's Life During Routine Procedure in Cairo

In an incident that shocked the Egyptian public, the young girl, Noorzad Mohamed Hashem, aged 23, passed away after entering a private hospital in Cairo for a routine endoscopic procedure in the bile duct, which later turned into a tragic tragedy due to a serious medical error.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population quickly responded to the incident, affirming its full commitment to protecting patients' rights and ensuring the quality and safety of medical services in both the public and private sectors.

In an official statement issued yesterday, the Ministry announced the dispatch of a specialized committee from the Central Administration of Free Treatment and Licensing to the concerned hospital to review all medical details and procedures followed before, during, and after the surgical operation.

The committee was tasked with verifying compliance with medical quality and safety standards, examining the operation records, and the medical team's response to the complications that led to the death.

The Ministry confirmed its full cooperation with the Public Prosecution and the Forensic Medicine Authority to ensure a transparent and fair investigation, pledging to take all legal measures in case of any negligence or misconduct.

Noorzad entered the hospital on June 23, 2025, for an endoscopic procedure on the bile ducts and the placement of a plastic stent.

However, during the procedure, the doctor made a grave mistake that resulted in a perforation in the duodenum, causing a dangerous leakage into the abdominal cavity, leading to blood poisoning and severe respiratory complications.

According to her family, the hospital's handling of the situation was very delayed, as initially, the doctors only provided painkillers without realizing the extent of the serious complications.

The intensive care doctor refused to intervene when her condition deteriorated, and Noorzad suffered from suffocation and respiratory failure, lasting for 45 minutes without the medical team being able to insert a breathing tube, resulting in brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

The medical report revealed that in the early hours of Tuesday, July 8, the girl experienced a sudden deterioration in consciousness, prompting CT scans of the brain, chest, and abdomen, which showed severe brain hemorrhage.

Subsequently, the case was presented to a neurology consultant, and the necessary treatment was administered.

Noorzad remained in a deep coma in the intensive care unit, on a ventilator, until her condition deteriorated permanently, and her heart stopped beating, leading to her passing away after two weeks of suffering.

Noorzad's mother filed an official complaint with the Nuzha Police Department, accusing the management of Nuzha International Hospital of committing gross medical negligence resulting in her daughter's death.

The Public Prosecution responded to the complaint, instructing the forensic medicine to autopsy the body and determine the actual cause of death.

The family is still awaiting the forensic autopsy report from the Forensic Medicine Authority to be included in the complaint for taking the necessary legal actions against the hospital and the involved medical team.

The Ministry of Health concluded its statement by emphasizing that it will inform the public of all developments once the investigations are completed, stressing that medical negligence is an unforgivable crime, and those involved will not escape punishment if negligence or malpractice is proven.

Noorzad's story sheds light once again on the danger of medical negligence in some private healthcare facilities, emphasizing the need to tighten supervision and ensure real accountability to prevent this tragedy from recurring with a new victim.