AN EASTERN Cape man who lived for three years with two surgical instruments in his body is suing the Department of Health and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital for R8-million.
The department allegedly reneged on a deal to settle the matter out of court, even after admit ting liability for the incident.
Lusikisiki-born Wandisile Myolwa was stabbed in 2007 – but little did he know that going to hospital for treatment would leave him walking around for end up with the surgical instruments in his body.
He spent the following three years with a pair of babcock forceps and a bulldog clamp in his body and it was only in 2009 that doctors realised what was going on.
Babcock forceps are like large tweezers – a hand-held, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects when fingers are too large to grasp small objects.
Bulldog clamps are used to stop blood flow while performing procedures.
A doctor who spoke to the Saturday Dispatch on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said checks were meant supposed to be in place to en sure all instruments used in an operation were accounted for on completion of the procedure.
After being treated for the stab wound and being being discharged from hospital, Myolwa spent the next three years in constant pain in his abdomenal area. He described it as being the “worst time of my life”.
“I was forever in pain, but I did not think there was anything sinister about it as I thought it was probably the (stab) wound healing inside,” he said. “I went to the hospital numerous times and I re quested that I be taken for x-rays but that never happened. It was only after numerous visits to private doctors that one finally said I should go get x-rayed.”
Myolwa said he got the shock of his life when he saw the instruments inside his body and said they operated immediately. “No one even came to apologise to me,” he said.
Myolwa’s. The problems did not end when the instruments were removed.
A medical report by a Mthatha-based doctor stated that the presence of instruments had caused the development of an “inflammatory mass with the instruments eroding into the descending colon and the small bowel”.
The report further stated that Myolwa was likely to develop “adhesions and intestinal obstruction as a result of inflammatory response to the foreign bodies”, and “, it added.
“The Babcock forceps and Bulldog clamp had eroded into the lume of the colon and small bowel stimulating a severe inflammatory response.
“Abdominal operation may compromise his ability to perform duties, especially where his job involves lifting objects” may be compromised, wrote the surgeon.
Myolwa approached his lawyer, advocate Advocate Edward Bikitsha for help and in to seek legal recourse for the pain he was suffering. In October 2011 a court order was granted in his Myolwa’s favour. The department admitted liability but the judge did not rule on the settlement, said Bikitsha.
This was because the state attorney representing the Department of Health asked for requested that it be an out-of- court settlement. Since then the department has done nothing.
Myolwa is now suing for previous medical expenses, disfigurement, future medical expenses and future loss of income as he has not been able to work since the surgery. He struggles to lift heavy things objects since due to the operation.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said he would not comment on matters involving lawyers. —
Surgery bungle
The department allegedly reneged on a deal to settle the matter out of court, even after admit ting liability for the incident.
Lusikisiki-born Wandisile Myolwa was stabbed in 2007 – but little did he know that going to hospital for treatment would leave him walking around for end up with the surgical instruments in his body.
He spent the following three years with a pair of babcock forceps and a bulldog clamp in his body and it was only in 2009 that doctors realised what was going on.
Babcock forceps are like large tweezers – a hand-held, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects when fingers are too large to grasp small objects.
Bulldog clamps are used to stop blood flow while performing procedures.
A doctor who spoke to the Saturday Dispatch on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said checks were meant supposed to be in place to en sure all instruments used in an operation were accounted for on completion of the procedure.
After being treated for the stab wound and being being discharged from hospital, Myolwa spent the next three years in constant pain in his abdomenal area. He described it as being the “worst time of my life”.
“I was forever in pain, but I did not think there was anything sinister about it as I thought it was probably the (stab) wound healing inside,” he said. “I went to the hospital numerous times and I re quested that I be taken for x-rays but that never happened. It was only after numerous visits to private doctors that one finally said I should go get x-rayed.”
Myolwa said he got the shock of his life when he saw the instruments inside his body and said they operated immediately. “No one even came to apologise to me,” he said.
Myolwa’s. The problems did not end when the instruments were removed.
A medical report by a Mthatha-based doctor stated that the presence of instruments had caused the development of an “inflammatory mass with the instruments eroding into the descending colon and the small bowel”.
The report further stated that Myolwa was likely to develop “adhesions and intestinal obstruction as a result of inflammatory response to the foreign bodies”, and “, it added.
“The Babcock forceps and Bulldog clamp had eroded into the lume of the colon and small bowel stimulating a severe inflammatory response.
“Abdominal operation may compromise his ability to perform duties, especially where his job involves lifting objects” may be compromised, wrote the surgeon.
Myolwa approached his lawyer, advocate Advocate Edward Bikitsha for help and in to seek legal recourse for the pain he was suffering. In October 2011 a court order was granted in his Myolwa’s favour. The department admitted liability but the judge did not rule on the settlement, said Bikitsha.
This was because the state attorney representing the Department of Health asked for requested that it be an out-of- court settlement. Since then the department has done nothing.
Myolwa is now suing for previous medical expenses, disfigurement, future medical expenses and future loss of income as he has not been able to work since the surgery. He struggles to lift heavy things objects since due to the operation.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said he would not comment on matters involving lawyers. —
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