Medical claims a sad state of affairs

IT IS hard to choose between the callousness of ambulance-chasing lawyers and KZN Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo in their dealings with sick people.

According to reports, Dhlomo pleaded with patients who are medical-negligence victims not to sue the state. His department is dealing with R10.5 billion in outstanding claims. So far during the 2016/17 financial year R240 million in legal claims has been paid out.

Strip away the shuffling of legal papers and use of court time, and consider the suffering.

Patients who put their trust in doctors, nurses and the state’s medical system had their lives changed by negligence. Of course, not all claims have merit but when they run into billions, it must be true of a fair proportion.

No one has any time for the lawyers who turned from milking the Road Accident Fund to trawling for a pay cheque from potential malpractice victims. Although some are doing their best on behalf of their clients, there have been many reports of lawyers pocketing most of the payouts for their legal fees.

Dhlomo, during his budget presentation, apparently appealed to victims to accept special medical treatment, which might include helping disabled victims by converting their homes to accommodate wheelchairs. Victims might also get priority at state medical facilities. Given the poor state of public health care this is hardly a comfort.

What about their potential loss of earnings and the impact on the lives of their families?

The MEC said a new team of doctors and lawyers was being put together to review medical claims and advise him on conceding, mediating or defending these.

If done properly, this could save money fruitlessly wasted on legal action, but it is also sad. If qualified medical hospital administrators had been appointed to keep staff motivated and equipment serviced, we would not have had to spend badly needed money on a team like this.