Hospital has no leg to stand on

Charlotte Maxeke staff accused by diabetic woman of lack of post-op care. ANOTHER PATIENT LOSES LIMB

Another patient has come forward detailing alleged botched surgery at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. The Citizen last week published Voilla Ncube’s two-month ordeal at the hands of Charlotte Maxeke nurses and doctors.

According to 60-year-old diabetic Catherine Khanyeza, she was admitted to the hospital in November for a toe to be amputated. The toe started to get worse after her admission and she was told her foot would have to be amputated just above the ankle.

“I woke up to find half the leg gone,” she said. “They amputated further, just below the knee.

“No-one provided me with an explanation as to why they took away all of my lower leg.”

She alleged she was not given painkillers post-surgery. Her daughter brought her painkillers when she visited and Khanyeza said she had to wait until no staff were around before taking them.

When she complained that the amputated area needed to be stitched up and treated, she was told she needed another surgery to amputate above the knee.

Other than the wound, there was nothing wrong with what remained of the leg.

“I feared losing my whole leg,” she said. “The wound got infected and oozed pus because they never treated it after surgery.

“I decided to discharge myself. I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to a private doctor. The wound has now healed and I am fine. I saved myself,” she said.

Hospital chief executive Gladys

Bogoshi says she was not aware of Ncube and Khanyeza’s cases.

She explained the problems experienced by diabetic patients, adding that Charlotte Maxeke is highly specialised.

Despite Ncube waiting almost two weeks for surgery, Bogoshi said amputation should be done soon after a patient’s arrival. “Sometimes, you get to theatre to amputate a toe, but find the problem has spread, so they amputate a little bit higher. The cases differ.”

Asked why there seems to be no wound care after amputation, Bogoshi said the hospital doesn’t close wounds if there are concerns about the patient’s condition.

“We keep the wound open for observation ... if you stitch it up, the problem could spread further, especially because you are unable to see the wound.

I decided to discharge myself. The wound has now healed and I’m fine