Hani Al-Jahani, a Saudi surgeon working at a hospital in the French city of Colmar, succeeded in removing the brain tumor of a young Kuwaiti girl. The patient had gone to Paris to have the surgery done by a renowned surgeon, but he canceled the operation at the last minute because of the spread of the coronavirus.
Many other renowned hospitals also refused her request to have the surgery done there.
The Kuwaiti medical attaché contacted several renowned hospitals, requesting that they perform the surgery, but they declined, Jahani said, according to the Saudi Press Agency. With intensive care units overwhelmed with patients, no one was willing to look into her case.
The patient’s brother eventually contacted him through the medical attaché.
“I proposed having the surgery performed at the hospital where I work, but the hospital's administration refused, as it is located in an area of France which is among the most affected by the coronavirus,” he revealed. He persisted for two weeks, however, and the administration eventually relented.
Jehani said the surgery is among the riskiest and it required that the patient remain in the operating room for seven continuous hours. He spoke of the massive stress he was under because he had taken on the surgery on his own, without the support of the hospital.
The patient was able to move all of her limbs immediately after the operation and was scheduled to remain in the hospital for 10 days, but left after four.
Jahani had been sent to France to complete their medical fellowship in Neurosurgery. After three years, he moved to Colmar for work. After completing the fellowship, students are required to leave France immediately and specialize in any other country, because France does not allow foreign doctors to specialize in certain fields, including brain and neuro surgery. However, an agreement signed between the Cultural Attaché at the Saudi embassy in France and the French Ministry of Health allowed him to complete his training and specialize in France.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
