Tube inserted into lung instead of stomach - wife

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File photo

Published May 1, 2014

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Johannesburg - A woman is suing Gauteng health MEC Hope Papo for R829 000 after her husband died at a state hospital, allegedly because of negligence, The Citizen reported on Thursday.

Witbank receptionist Philippa Venter, 52, claims her husband Hendrik died because a gastric tube was inserted into his lung instead of his stomach at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria.

The amount Venter is claiming is for loss of support from her husband.

The case was removed from the High Court in Pretoria's roll this week and would be heard later, the newspaper reported.

Venter said her husband was admitted to the hospital in August 2011 for an operation to treat a cancerous ulcer in his mouth. He died nearly two weeks later.

In court papers, she said medical staff were negligent because of the incorrect insertion.

The defendent denied negligence and said the “mishap” of the tube finding its way into Venter's lung was discovered and corrected timeously and had little or no effect on his health deteriorating. - Sapa

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