NSF Pte Dominique Sarron Lee died 17 April 2012 during a training exercise. A coroner’s inquiry today (30 Aug) has determined that NSF Private Dominique Sarron Lee died from an acute allergic reaction to inhaling zinc chloride fumes and not from an asthma attack. Pte Lee died on 17 April last year after suffering breathing difficulties during a platoon exercise at Murai Urban Training Facility in Lim Chu Kang, where smoke grenades were used (‘Another NS man dies during training‘). Shortly after leaving the building, he lost consciousness and a SAF medic attended to him immediately. Pte Lee was sent to Sungei Gedong Medical Centre before being sent to the National University Hospital (NUH). A SAF doctor tried to resuscitate him in the ambulance en route to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at NUH. Pte Lee had declared during his pre-enlistment screening that he had a history of asthma but was considered fit for military training, as his last reported asthma attack was more than 3 years before enlistment. The coroner, however, noted that Pte Lee had underplayed his condition during a pre-enlistment medical checkup. He in fact had suffered an asthma attack 3 months before the checkup and had seen a GP about it. Pte Lee’s family contended that his medical records should have been reviewed by SAF and additional tests should have been conducted. But the coroner said patients must bring up relevant information for medical screenings to be effective, pointing out that it is “hard to accept” that doctors have to conduct further screenings for every enlistee. The coroner also said the platoon commander who threw the smoke grenades could not have predicted Pte Lee’s allergic reaction, although there was more smoke than necessary during the exercise. The coroner also noted that other recruits who suffered from asthma did not report any adverse outcome from the exercise. Pte Lee’s family said it is difficult for them to accept the coroner’s findings as they feel it is based on one-sided testimony and they are considering legal action. Pte Lee’s mother, Felicia Seah, appeared distraught after the findings were delivered. Sean Seah, Pte Lee’s uncle, said, “We definitely want to pursue further; we want SAF to answer our concerns. And because we have many unanswered questions, what we want SAF to show us is that they are really putting in measures to ensure that the safety of all NSmen in future is taken care of.” On 14 May last year, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told Parliament that over the years, many NS men with asthma have gone through military training “without adverse effects”. Dr Ng acknowledged that 1 in 5 NSmen has asthma but it is usually mild, so much so that most asthmatic NSmen are considered combat-fit. He said, “Around 20 per cent of our servicemen are found to have some form of asthma, of which (the) majority are mild. Many of them have been put through training without adverse effects.” But he also gave the assurance that SAF medics are trained and equipped to handle any asthma attacks, such as using inhalers or providing supplemental oxygen. He also assured the House that SAF regularly reviewed its medical screening procedures, to ensure they keep up with “international and national clinical practices”. VN:R_U [1.9.22_1171] Rating: 0 (from 0 votes) Posted in Editorial « New housing subsidy to cost Govt $150M a year, really?Sponsored Advertisement
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 05:26:33 +0000
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