Doc in court over liposuction

2004-03-15 22:57

Liela Magnus

Pretoria - A doctor denied in the regional court here on Monday he was guilty of culpable homicide becaue a patient died a day after a liposuction operation.

Jan van Almenkerk, 62, apparently told the woman's daughter, Franelyn Hoffmeyer, she was bothering him a lot when she phoned him for a third time to say she was worried about her mother.

Petronella Christina Susanne Janse van Rensburg died of two "massive" heart attacks in Pretoria East Hospital on May 12 2001, after a liposuction operation.

The charge sheet showed that Janse van Rensburg died because of "a cause that could be associated with liposuction with complications".

In his plea, Van Almenkerk denied there were any complications.

He said a lot of pain and problems with urinating were symptoms one could expect after such a procedure and were not indicative of any complications.

3 500ml fat and fluid sucked out

Janse van Rensburg arrived at Van Almenkerk's rooms for the operation on the morning of May 11. She weighed about 52 kg.

About 3 500ml fat and fluid was sucked from her stomach, inside of her thighs and back.

Janse van Resnburg's husband, Petrus Francois, did not know about the operation.

Hoffmeyer testified that her mother was very bloated at their home outside Delmas the next day. She had trouble urinating and complained of pain.

She phoned Van Almenkerk. He apparently said he had "worked very hard" on her mother's body and that his patient should wear a body stocking. He recommended more painkillers.

Hoffmeyer said her mother wanted to take a shower in the hope that it would help her to urinate. Her mother was very drowsy and Hoffmeyer phoned Van Almenkerk again.

She claimed he said her mother could have a shower.

Janse van Rensburg collapsed when she got out of the shower. Van Almenkerk was phoned again.

Hoffmeyer said: "He said: 'You are bothering me a lot now' and asked how old I was. I explained to him again that my mother could not pass water."

Van Almenkerk allegedly said she had to take her mother to his rooms in Hatfield, Pretoria, immediately, but Hoffmeyer took her to Pretoria East Hospital, instead.

The doctor on duty told her a while later that her mother was in a coma.

Van Almenkerk phoned her later and she claimed he said "it was a very stupid thing you did (to go to Pretoria East Hospital), because now you will only raise dust clouds".

Told about procedures

Janse van Rensburg was transferred to the high-care unit where she later died.

Van Almenkerk's advocate, Gert Bam, put it to Hoffmeyer that the doctor never said her mother could have a shower. Hoffmeyer denied this.

Alberta Maria Pertorius, Van Almenkerk's assistant, said there were no signs of complications after Janse van Rensburg's operation.

She said Janse van Rensburg was thoroughly told about the pre- and aftercare of the operation and the procedures that would be followed.

The case continues.

- Beeld