Durban - A Durban doctor accused of medical negligence which allegedly led to the death of Jadene Naidoo, 19, has blamed her parents for failing to ensure that she received adequate treatment.
In his defending plea before the Durban High Court, Dr Bala Govender, a specialist surgeon, denied allegations made against him by Naidoo’s family in November last year.
The family sued Govender, and one other doctor for R8 million for the suffering that their daughter went through before her death.
Naidoo was in a car accident on September 9. She suffered minor injuries but was admitted to the St Augustine’s hospital’s intensive care unit for treatment and observation.
Her parents, Trevor and Pathmavathy Naidoo, said she complained of severe abdominal pain and allege she was not taken seriously when she complained of the severity of her pain. The family insisted that the surgeon should be changed, but this was not done.
The Naidoos were later told Jadene was critical and needed surgery. They said she would be put into a medically induced coma.
After meeting the doctors, they were told Jadene’s small bowel had ruptured and toxins had entered her body. She remained in ICU on a ventilator fully sedated while doctors tried to save her from the rising toxin levels in her body.
Naidoo died on September 20 and her parents blamed her death on the negligence of the doctors and nursing staff at the hospital. The family is claiming R8m for funeral expenses, medical costs, counselling, therapy and loss of support.
But Dr Govender in his plea said that his mandate had been terminated on September 11.
In court papers, he states:
* The parents failed to appoint another general surgeon to manage Jadene’s surgical condition.
* They unduly interfered with her management and left her without adequate surgical management on the weekend following her accident. Govender believes that, as a result, the negligence by Jadene’s parents contributed to her death and any damages suffered.
He claimed that even though his mandate had been terminated, with Jadene’s permission he acted in her interests and gave telephonic assistance, assessed assistance, and examined and treated her.
He denied being responsible for the emotional trauma, anxiety and stress experienced by Jadene’s family.
According to court papers: “In examining, assessing and treating Jadene, Govender acted in accordance with accepted surgical protocol and with care and skill as reasonably expected of a qualified and experienced specialist surgeon.”
Govender in his plea said he prayed that the family’s claim against him be dismissed, with costs. He said should they wish not to dismiss their claims, he requested damages against him be reduced and apportioned.
Jadene was a clinical technology student at the Durban University of Technology.
Sunday Tribune
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