‘Skin cloning was best option’
Plastic surgeon defends decision to perform less conventional procedure on young burn victim
A CLASH is brewing between Dr Ridwan Mia and the parents of five-year-old burn victim Celiwe Maseko, who are probing the decision to use cloned skin to graft on her wounds.
Mia shot to fame last year after performing the first cloned-skin graft in South Africa on Limpopo toddler Isabella “Pippie” Kruger.
Maseko underwent the same procedure this year through money made available by a fund in Pippie’s name.
But this week Mia received a letter from lawyers acting on behalf of the Maseko family, asking him to hand over his clinical notes, including bed, theatre and nursing notes, as well as X-ray records.
Mia said he had presented all options to the parents.
He said there were suggestions that he had forced the Masekos to opt for the skin cloning rather than the conventional skin-graft option.
‘‘I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong,” Mia said. “I don’t think I need to justify it. This wasn’t the only option and I never said it was necessary. However, I did feel I used my own clinical judgment, and in the interest of the child I felt that it was the best option.”
Mia said he would consult an attorney before responding to the letter.
“At no stage did I force anyone to do this operation . . . If it was my child, I would want the same option for her. I felt competent and it really was the best alternative to offer her,” he said.
Attorney Giusi Harper, who represents the Masekos, declined to comment on the reason for the letter. She said her clients had instructed her to make the request.
Grafts made from skin grown in a lab in Boston, US, in April were transplanted to Celiwe, who suffered burns over 30% of her body when her dress caught alight.
The skin was grown over two weeks on a scaffolding of mouse cells. It was then flown to South Africa and used on the burn victim’s wounds during a fourhour operation.
According to Mia, cloned skin is an alternative to conventional skin grafts — which are taken from other parts of the victim’s body — and cause less scarring.
In April, Celiwe became the second patient in South Africa to receive the cloned skin.
A day after the surgery, Mia received the National Order of the Baobab from President Jacob Zuma for his contribution to the field of medicine.
The new skin was paid for by money donated from Pippie’s foundation, which was set up after she became the first recipient of cloned skin.
Pippie was burnt over 80% of her body after she was engulfed in flames when a bottle of firelighter gel exploded in her father’s hands.
Doctors gave the toddler a very low chance of survival.
Pippie’s mother, Anice Kruger, was accused in a tabloid newspaper recently of having failed to register the fund as a nonprofit organisation.
The Krugers were also accused of allegedly funneling donations into their personal bank account.
Kruger said she was aware of the ‘‘slanderous accusations” made against her.
‘‘It is very hurtful and totally untrue. I believe these accusations arose due to a personal vendetta. I am taking legal action against various parties and will do everything to clear my name,” she said.