Durban - A woman and her partner are suing the provincial health department for more than R9 million after her son was born handicapped when, she says, hospital staff ignored her medical distress and even slapped her for “not pushing” during the delivery.
According to court papers filed at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Bongekile Khubeka, 31, of Glenmore, in Durban, arrived at Emmaus Hospital near Winterton at 2pm on August 24, 2012, in labour.
She informed medical staff that she had already been assessed at Bergville Clinic and she required a Caesarean section because of the size of the baby, which was too large to be delivered naturally.
The staff allegedly paid no heed to this information and a prolonged and painful labour followed.
Khubeka alleged that during her labour staff were very aggressive towards her and slapped her for not pushing hard enough.
She said they also applied pressure to her stomach and at times abandoned her with the instruction to call them when she was ready to deliver.
They failed to appreciate that the baby was in distress and her son, Khethelo, was born by natural delivery at 7.30pm, weighing 4.3kg.
Upon delivery, she said, Khethelo was not breathing and placed on oxygen.
He also suffered from hypoglycaemia which was undetected because of staff’s failure, she said, to monitor his blood glucose levels.
As a result of negligence on the part of medical staff, she said, Khethelo was born severely physically and mentally handicapped with irreversible brain damage and will remain dependent on others for the rest of his life.
He also suffered from seizures and was visually impaired.
Khethelo would require specialised medical care and medical equipment, neurodevelopmental therapy as well as full time care by a trained caregiver and eventual placement in an institution.
On Thursday Khubeka and her partner, Sydwell Nselemade, made an application for an interim payment of R183 731 in respect of Khethelo’s past medical expenses.
While the department has conceded liability in the case, the issue of the amount is yet to be decided.
The department is opposing the application for interim damages.
The case has been adjourned to August 18.
Daily News