Family seeks justice after mother's death due to alleged hospital negligence

A Pietermaritzburg family is seeking legal recourse against two hospitals for alleged negligence following the death of their 70-year-old mother, Indranee Rajah. 

Her son, Shaun Rajah, said they had consulted with an attorney this week after their mother was taken to a private hospital and to Northdale Hospital following a pain in her neck. 

He said they were in the process of instituting civil and criminal proceedings "of all parties involved”. 

Rajah said his mother, of Copesville, fell ill on the morning of July 12. 

"My brother, Odain, called me early that morning. He said our mother felt sick and they were rushing her to the private hospital. Her neck was sore and she was groaning in pain."

He said his mother was diabetic and had high blood pressure. 

Rajah and he and his sister Odelle met Odain at the private hospital. He said they were informed that their mother had a stroke, which had led to a heart attack.  

“My mother was in pain and could not respond. The doctors said, ‘we think she had a stroke’. They brought out the ECG machine and found that she also had a heart attack. They asked for her to be admitted but she was not on medical aid. They then phoned Northdale Hospital and requested they send an ambulance. But the staff from Northdale Hospital said it was not possible because there were no ambulances available.”

An emotional Rajah said he then took his mother in his private vehicle to the government hospital.  

“Before I left, the doctors at the the private hospital gave me an admission note and a copy of her ECG reading to hand to the doctors there, so she could be treated. At the hospital's trauma unit, we were met with disdain and lack of urgency. I screamed for the nurses to help me because my mother was having a heart attack but no one helped." 

He decided to put his mother into a wheelchair, but he said he was broken. 

“My mother was vomiting but the nurses were uninterested. They said they were on a shift change and we had to wait. I demanded to know who was in charge and went to the doctor and nurses cubicle, just for them to stare at me blankly. 

"I begged for help since that was their job. They said we had to start at the triage for testing. When I told them we already have the referral letters and ECG readings, they said they would not admit a patient using another hospital's ECG forms.”

Rajah said the doctor and two nurses were rude and unwilling to help. 

“While waiting, my mother said she wanted to use the toilet. I asked my wife, Seema, and my sister to take her to the bathroom. I stepped out of the ward just to hear my wife screaming a few seconds later. My mother had slid off the wheelchair. She was frothing and her eyes were wide open. A doctor ran to check her pulse and found there was none. 

“They started chest compressions. They also tried putting in a breathing tube and drips but within five minutes, the doctor informed us that my sweet mother had passed away. I was in shock and ran into the room to see her body covered with a sheet. There was blood on her hands where they tried to insert a drip but she was not plugged to any machines.”

He said the doctor told the family that if they had more time, they could have saved his mother.

“There was time. They just did not take us seriously. My mother apparently had five blocked arteries. I do not know how the doctor came to that conclusion without any tests, not even an ECG. I was still emotional when the staff started shoving forms in my face to sign. The doctor even filled out his name in the wrong place and left." 

Rajah said the incident was heartbreaking and traumatic. 

“It is the worst feeling to lose your mother. I begged them to save her but they merely looked at me. My stepfather and all of the siblings and family are heartbroken. 

"Before my mother remarried, it was only me and her for 10 years. We did not have money, so she cleaned houses to put food on the table. Even for my siblings' education, she fought for bursaries. She was a kind and loving mother, who brought us up well despite the circumstances.”

Rajah said he wanted both hospitals held accountable. 

"The private hospital was supposed to stabilise her first. There were no drips but instead they put an aspirin under her tongue. The doctors said her pulse was weak and did an ECG test. That was it. They did not ask if we were willing to pay. If they had asked, we would have made the payment. They just phoned Northdale Hospital. We were not thinking straight because we were so worried. The doctors even told us not to wait and go quickly."

He said the staff at Northdale Hospital were unprofessional and wasted valuable time in treating his mother.

“My mother's death must not go in vain. These hospitals need to treat patients as human beings. I will not rest until they are held accountable." 

Ntokozo Maphisa, the spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health, said: "We note the inquiry with concern, and view these allegations seriously. Without prejudice, we wish to convey our condolences to the bereaved family. As a matter of principle, the department does not publicly comment on matters pertaining to the clinical management of patients. Management of the hospital are nevertheless duly prepared to meet with the family to discuss any concerns that they might have."

The private had not commented at the time of publication. 

Indranee’s funeral was held on July 14.

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