NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The parents of a two-year-old boy who died in Princess Margaret Hospital seven years ago vow to continue their fight for justice, as they question “how long” they must wait for the opportunity to have their case heard in court.
Ricardo and Madeen Bullard say that while money will not bring their son back, they are still seeking justice for his death. The couple firmly believes that a blood transfusion error while at the Princess Margaret Hospital, just before Joshua’s birth in December 2015, played a critical role in his severe developmental issues at birth. Those issues left him in hospital for just over two years until he died. Mrs. Bullard said she had a healthy, normal pregnancy up until the day before her son was born when she was given a blood transfusion.
The Bullards contend that the evidence affirms that hospital staff was responsible. They have been left frustrated that the matter has seen no resolution or closure after all these years, with hospital authorities refusing to take any responsibility.
Mrs. Bullard stated: “At present,t right no,w everything is at a standstill. We have our attorney back and forth with the AG’s office and the courts. As it is now, PMH says they want to contest. If they don’t want to do what they should do, then we’re prepared to fight this in court.”
She added: “As it stands now, we are not hearing anything and our attorney is not hearing anything. We need justice. Money can’t bring our son back, but we want justice and closure.”
Mrs. Bullard contends that before the ill-fated blood transfusion, she never had any blood issues, but since then has now found herself often in need of medical treatment, going from a blood donor to a constant recipient.
“I don’t want them to turn a deaf ear and a closed eye to the situation. What would have happened if I had lost my life along with Joshua? At the end of the day, giving a patient the wrong blood could have been fatal,” she noted.
Mr Bullard added: “All of the tests came back negative indicating that Joshua did not have any genetic disorder. Joshua was in the hospital for two and a half years. He would have been nine come December. We went through two administrations and are now on a third. They don’t want to settle; enough is enough. No amount of money could bring our son back, but we want justice.”
Mr Bullard noted that before their son’s death, he and his wife tried desperately for over a year to have their baby son transferred to the United States for special medical care, however, he claimed that hospital officials had frustrated that process.
The couple filed a Writ of Summons issued in 2018, although no communication was received from the PHA until January 3rd, 2020, at which time the PHA indicated that it would defend the matter in court, filing a defense on November 28th, 2019. According to the Bullards, in February 2022, the Supreme Court contacted their legal counsel to provide less than 24 hours’ notice – that their case would be heard on February 8th, 2022. This timeframe,e however,r did not allow them nor their legal counsel the opportunity to make proper arrangements to have our case presented before the Supreme Court. The couple sought an alternative date but have received no further communications from the Supreme Court on another trial date.
The couple also wrote to the Public Hospital’s Authority on June 14th, 2022, to engage in a settlement but did not hear back from the PHA until nearly half a year later, on January 27th, 2023. The PHA communicated that they do not admit to any liability in the case and that further patience would be required from the family in navigating the matter.
