Latest update August 15th, 2026 10:49 AM
Feb 07, 2020 News
Geoffrey and Jean Sankies, the siblings of renowned pioneering engineer, Melvyn Sankies have filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Medical Arts of Thomas Street, Georgetown, and well-known surgeon, Dr. Sheik Amir, over the death of their brother who had undergone a surgery at the institution.
The siblings, hereinafter referred to as the Claimants were appointed administrators of their brother’s estate, and are seeking damages and pecuniary compensation for injuries their brother sustained while under the care of the medical facility, which resulted in his death almost 10 years ago.
During a brief hearing yesterday before Justice Brassington Reynolds, lawyers for the Claimants, including Senior Counsel Stephen Fraser, made an application for Medical Arts to disclose certain medical records that are pertinent to the case. Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, who is representing the hospital, made no objections. In fact, he said that he will make the records available to his colleague, and as customary, allow him time to peruse them. The matter comes up for another hearing on March 6.
Melvyn Sankies died on August 25, 2011 at the age of 73, hours after he was admitted to the Medical Arts Centre for a hernia operation. His brother and sister are convinced that his death was due to negligence, carelessness and/or recklessness of the staff of the medical institution. They believe that the hospital’s mismanagement, to the extent of virtually “throwing Sankies into the jaws of death solely because of negligence and improper treatment given to him while he was a patient during and after surgery” was also responsible for his demise.
A post mortem revealed that Melvyn Sankies, died of hypovolaemic shock (an emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body), as a result of perforation of the femoral artery. The siblings claim this happened after Dr. Amir had performed surgery for hernia.
According to an affidavit in support of the writ, Melvyn Sankies was admitted to the hospital on the morning of August 25, 2011 and was seen by a doctor at 10:00 hours in preparation for the surgery. The surgery commenced 45 minutes later. Two hours after the surgery, Melvyn Sankies’ condition worsened and he began vomiting. He was subsequently transferred to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Hospital where he eventually died later that day.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Rising Debt, Rising US Dollar Rate in Oil-rich Guyana!

Aug 15, 2026
By Rawle Toney (Kaieteur Sports) The Bayroc National Stadium in Linden has emerged as Guyana’s only track and field facility currently listed as certified by World Athletics. According to track and...Aug 15, 2026
(Kaieteur News) For months now Cuba has been under U.S. pressure. It is being starved of the resources it needs for energy in the face of the collapse of its electricity grid. And only a handful of individual and groups in Guyana have been brave enough to come forward and to condemn the imperialist...Aug 02, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – Daniel Ortega has now said openly what his regime has demonstrated for years: the people of Nicaragua are not to be permitted to remove their rulers through elections. During celebrations marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Ortega...Aug 15, 2026
Hard Truths by GHK Lall (Kaieteur News) I think that CCJ President, Dr. Winston Anderson, has only one option. My recommendation is that he tenders. From what is now concretised in the public record, most likely throughout the region, he is radioactive. If the allegations were from one colleague, I...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com