By Ftima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone — In a pivotal moment in the ongoing murder trial of Sia Fatu Kamara, Dr. Herbert Kallon, the seventh prosecution witness, testified on Friday, November 1, 2024, before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens, revealing the complexities and potential risks of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Dr. Kallon, an experienced surgeon, explained that CPR, especially if performed by an inexperienced healthcare worker, can sometimes lead to fractured ribs—a significant detail in the context of Kamara’s untimely death.
The surgeon, who had been providing post-graduate surgical training at the Emergency Hospital in Goderich, recalled the morning of August 13, 2024. He testified that Kamara was brought into the critical care area around 8:25 a.m., where CPR was underway under the guidance of an international doctor. The team, he explained, was attempting to restore vital signs, but Kamara remained unresponsive, showing no heartbeat, pulse, or respiratory activity on the monitors. The doctors administered adrenaline and naloxone, but the procedure yielded no improvement, leading them to confirm Kamara as clinically dead.
Dr. Kallon explained the physiological impacts of CPR, noting that chest compressions and airway resuscitation can lead to side effects, including vomiting, abdominal distension from air intake, and potential rib fractures. He further clarified that these risks are minimized when performed by experienced personnel but remain possible.
During cross-examination by defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, Dr. Kallon confirmed his 11 years of medical experience and explained the thorough examination used to assess Kamara’s condition. Koroma questioned whether the examination verified Kamara’s lack of vital signs; Dr. Kallon affirmed that the team had found no pulse, breathing, or heart activity. He also explained that CPR is typically conducted only on living patients and is designed as a life-saving process.
At the close of Friday’s hearing, the court adjourned the case to November 8, 2024, with the accused, Abdul Kpaka, remaining in custody. The medical testimony from Dr. Kallon underscores the rigorous measures taken by healthcare workers in life-threatening situations and highlights the risks involved in emergency medical procedures, providing new insights into the circumstances surrounding Kamara’s death.
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