Baby gets R90 000 for fingers

2005-05-05 08:37

Liela Magnus

Nelspruit - Mpumalanga's MEC for health has been ordered to pay R90 000 to a one-year-old boy who lost the fingers on his left hand after a nurse forgot to remove an elastic band that had been wrapped around his arm.

According to affidavits, Ntando Jedidiya Matikwane, who is a hydrocephalic, also stands to lose his left arm.

Ntando was admitted to Shongwe Hospital in Mpumalanga in May 2000 due to cerebral swelling. A nurse wrapped an elastic band around his arm to insert an intravenous drip. The elastic band was not removed afterwards.

According to court documents, the elastic band was left around the boy's arm for more than 20 hours. As a result it cut the blood supply to his lower arm and hand.

The baby's mother spotted the elastic band when she visited him. By then the hand and arm were discoloured.

She removed the elastic band, but it was too late to save his fingers.

Ntando was transferred to Pretoria Academic Hospital where the digits were amputated.

According to the documents, Ntando is seriously mentally disabled and he lives in his own world. He is blind, unable to understand what's going on around him and his left arm is completely useless.

Khwahla Abel Matikwane, Ntando's father, said in a statement that hospital staff had been negligent in failing to remove the elastic band.

He said a doctor or professional nurse ought to know the consequences of continuous pressure caused by an elastic band.

Judge Willie Hartzenberg ordered that the amount be paid into the attorney's trust account.

- Beeld