THE Mpumalanga health MEC has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to pay a local woman R1.7-million after a botched operation has left her unable to hold stools in the rectum.
As a result excrement escapes through the woman's private parts, forcing her to wear nappies at all times.
Judge Nathan Erasmus also ordered MEC Clifford Mkasi to pay all medical costs, including travel costs incurred by the 24-year-old woman.
On September 21 2006 the woman, who cannot be named after the court order, was admitted to Mmametlhake Hospital for the birth of a child.
Her private parts were cut by doctors to facilitate delivery of the baby and she was later stitched. She was then discharged.
A week later, she said, she noticed that her stools were coming out of her private parts.
She said in that week she wondered why it was so painful for her to relieve herself and it was only after she approached social workers that they advised her to seek therapy.
"I went back to Mmametlhake Hospital and informed nurses and doctors about the problem but to no avail," the woman said.
She said she was turned back three times.
On her third visit she was referred to Witbank Hospital but again she was not assisted due to a shortage of doctors.
"That was my last attempt because I was not getting any joy," she said.
She said in an attempt to limit "accidents", she was forced to use nappies and visit the toilet regularly.
The woman, from Marapyane, outside Hammanskraal, said she was no longer able to have sex since it was painful.
Dr O Ogunnaike, a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist who examined the woman, said she was shocked when she saw the extent of the damage caused by the doctors.
"The patient sustained perforating injury to the wall of the vagina extending through the wall of the rectum and leaving a hole," Ogunnaike said.
Ogunnaike described the woman's condition as "rectovaginal fistula".
The woman's lawyer, Moepi Maubane, said they had initially sued for R3-million but were happy with the R1.7-million awarded.
"It's just sad that doctors who negligently performed this Caesarian on my client are still at work," he said.
Attempts to reach Mkasi were unsuccessful.
R1.7m awarded over botched op
THE Mpumalanga health MEC has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to pay a local woman R1.7-million after a botched operation has left her unable to hold stools in the rectum.
As a result excrement escapes through the woman's private parts, forcing her to wear nappies at all times.
Judge Nathan Erasmus also ordered MEC Clifford Mkasi to pay all medical costs, including travel costs incurred by the 24-year-old woman.
On September 21 2006 the woman, who cannot be named after the court order, was admitted to Mmametlhake Hospital for the birth of a child.
Her private parts were cut by doctors to facilitate delivery of the baby and she was later stitched. She was then discharged.
A week later, she said, she noticed that her stools were coming out of her private parts.
She said in that week she wondered why it was so painful for her to relieve herself and it was only after she approached social workers that they advised her to seek therapy.
"I went back to Mmametlhake Hospital and informed nurses and doctors about the problem but to no avail," the woman said.
She said she was turned back three times.
On her third visit she was referred to Witbank Hospital but again she was not assisted due to a shortage of doctors.
"That was my last attempt because I was not getting any joy," she said.
She said in an attempt to limit "accidents", she was forced to use nappies and visit the toilet regularly.
The woman, from Marapyane, outside Hammanskraal, said she was no longer able to have sex since it was painful.
Dr O Ogunnaike, a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist who examined the woman, said she was shocked when she saw the extent of the damage caused by the doctors.
"The patient sustained perforating injury to the wall of the vagina extending through the wall of the rectum and leaving a hole," Ogunnaike said.
Ogunnaike described the woman's condition as "rectovaginal fistula".
The woman's lawyer, Moepi Maubane, said they had initially sued for R3-million but were happy with the R1.7-million awarded.
"It's just sad that doctors who negligently performed this Caesarian on my client are still at work," he said.
Attempts to reach Mkasi were unsuccessful.
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