Hospital killing: Family to sue

2003-03-04 08:36

Willemien Brummer

Cape Town - "When you take your brother to hospital you hope he will return home healthy. But our Rowan has died."

A grieving Gavin Nicholas was speaking on Monday after the funeral of his brother, Rowan, at the weekend.

Rowan, 29, died on February 24 after reportedly being assaulted by two fellow patients in the Valkenburg Mental Hospital in Observatory.

The Nicholas family has started criminal proceedings against the two patients and has filed a civil action against the hospital and health department.

Nicholas, the youngest of eight children and breadwinner of his family, had been a contract teacher at Harmony Primary School in Steenberg. He was admitted to hospital after a nervous breakdown two weeks before his death.

His eldest brother, Colin, and his wife, Hazel, had visited him about 14:00 on February 22.

About half an hour after they had left, Rowan's father, Cornelius, mother Mary, brother Gavin and his wife, visited him.

Blood was pouring from his nose

It had been his father's birthday and his only wish had been to see his favourite son.

Gavin said: "When we arrived about 3.15pm, we found Rowan lying on a stretcher."

"He was naked, with only a towel covering his lower body. Blood was pouring from his nose.

"My father became hysterical. The only reaction from the nurse was: 'Don't you come and scream here.'

"My dad told them: "That's not a dog lying there," said Gavin.

Rowan was in a coma by then. An ambulance was called, but Gavin said it arrived only an hour after the call. Rowan was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital.

The next day the family was told Rowan had brain damage and his chances for recovery was rated at less than 10%.

They were told of his death on February 24.

Vernon de Vries of the Western Cape health department said the attackers were transferred to the forensic services section in Valkenberg.

"Both patients, who were responsible for the attack, had been singularly disruptive and aggressive that day and had been restrained on various occasions by the staff sister and security guard on duty.

"The nurse and guard were busy with another patient when the deceased (Rowan) was attacked," he said.

- Die Burger