MEDICAL LAWSUITS HIT GAUTENG

The news that Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has been ordered by the court to pay R12 million in yet another medical negligence case shows that medical lawsuits will hit the Gauteng health budget hard.

Justice Kathy Satchwell of the Johannesburg High Court found several acts of negligence by Edenvale Hospital that led to Prudence Khumbula's daughter Tanya being brain-damaged and paralysed during birth.

Last year the Gauteng Health Department lost all ten medical negligence cases in court, and had to pay out R16.9 million

So far this year R15.5 million has already been paid in two cases - R9.25 million to Prince Sibusiso Khanyi who was brain-damaged at birth at the Pholosong hospital, and R6.25 million court order to Mr Shabbier Nagel who had a leg amputated when he went for heart surgery at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.

According to a report to the Gauteng Legislature's public accounts committee in July last year, the Gauteng Health Department faced 101 medico-legal claims totalling R235 million.

Courts are granting higher payouts for medical negligence, so every effort must be made to ensure that quality care is provided instead of needlessly injuring patients.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, April 16 2012

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