'Urgent' probe into baby's hospital death
2013-01-21 14:32
Johannesburg - The Gauteng health department is
investigating the death of a baby which allegedly fell on the floor during
birth at Kalafong Hospital in Alberton, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The department's Simon Zwane said the matter was being
attended to with "extreme urgency".
"We are not happy that, on the face of it, it seems
that somebody did not properly manage our patient and it resulted in this
unfortunate incident."
Doctor didn't help
Beeld newspaper reported that Janine Meiring, 33, was rushed
to Kalafong hospital on 24 December after going into labour during her 27th
week of pregnancy.
Meiring told the newspaper the hospital had been
short-staffed and that no porter or wheelchair was provided.
After having a sonar scan, the doctor apparently ignored
Meiring when she asked him about the baby and told her to walk back to the
nurses.
"I said I could not and cried. The contractions were
out of control. He insisted I had to get off the bed and helped me off. I had
hardly taken two steps when I felt the baby’s head with my hand. I told the
doctor I could feel his head, but he said I should not touch there and pulled
my hand away," she told the newspaper.
"Then the baby arrived and slipped through my fingers
onto the floor."
Meiring said the baby landed so hard it bounced and landed
on its head a second time. The umbilical cord ruptured.
"I just looked at the doctor in disbelief. With a
smile, he told me I had to pick up the baby. He did nothing to help me."
Meiring claimed she picked up her baby, who was struggling
to breathe, and ran to the nurses. The baby later died.
A paediatrician told Beeld his death could have been caused
by the head injury, blood loss due to the ruptured umbilical cord, infection,
or undeveloped lungs because of the premature birth.
Investigation
Meiring said she wanted the doctor stripped of his
practising licence.
"He should not work with women or children," she
told Beeld.
Zwane could not comment on whether the doctor was still on
duty.
"Once we are done with investigations, the matter will
be reported to the Health Professions Council," said Zwane.
The baby's death follows a string of others at the George
Masebe hospital in Limpopo over the festive period.
The babies reportedly died of treatable diseases because
most of the staff and management were on leave. A senior manager has since been
suspended.
- SAPA
