Death note found in bin

THE DEATH notice of a young Durban mother who died in Durban’s Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital – five days after giving birth – was allegedly found in a hospital’s waste bin. And now the late mother’s missing medical file has prompted her family to suspect that the cause of death was negligence.

The KZN Department of Health has confirmed that the death of 21-year-old, Happy Sikiti, is being investigated. Sikiti gave birth to a healthy son, Qhawe, at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. A relative, Samke Masela, said that due to Sikiti’s small stature she was previously advised by hospital medics that a Caesarian section birth would be appropriate for her.

Samke said Sikiti had been experiencing breathing problems on April 28 and was taken to the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital by her friends, Ntumie Gxatana and Sindi Masela.

Sikiti went into labour prematurely. A nurse assured her that she would have a C-section at the appropriate time, said Samke.

She said she was shocked to later learn that Sikiti had given birth naturally. After the birth, Sikiti was placed in the hospital’s maternity high-care unit. “We were told that she had lost a lot of blood,” Samke said. Upon learning of Sikiti’s death, family members inquired, but a doctor in charge was unable to locate Sikiti’s medical file to discuss the cause of death.

However, after a few hours, Sindi said her relative’s death notice was found in a hospital bin. The cause of death listed on the notice was pulmonary hypertension, cardiac respiratory arrest and renal failure.

A spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health, Ncumisa Mafunda, said: “The passing of any individual is a sad occasion. To this end, and without prejudice, the department wishes to convey its condolences to the affected family.

“The department views the allegations in a very serious light and can confirm that management of the hospital concerned is currently conducting an investigation into this matter. The department will not hesitate to take strong action against any person found guilty of any wrongdoing,” Mafunda said.

Although Simkiti’s family met with hospital officials on Wednesday they were still not satisfied with the doctor’s summary which led to Happy’s death. Samke Masela said going to the hospital was just a futile exercise after the explanation given.

“When the causes of her death were listed to us it became clear that we were taken for a ride. They told us she died of complications including mental disorder, kidney failure, lungs and her blood level was high. A doctor who worked at the ICU gave an account of what happened that day,” Masela said.