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On a day that should have been routine, July 24, the body of 57-year-old Lazarus Mathabele, a patient at Matikwana Hospital, was discovered lifeless mere metres from the hospital entrance.

His body was found on the street by community members going to work in the early hours of the morning.

Since hospital management has not been able to explain what might have led to his death, the grief-stricken family are taking the legal route and suing the Mpumalanga Department of Health. The family are claiming R40 million on the grounds that the facility failed to ensure the safety of the patient.

Per The Citizen, one furious family member Grace Mathabele said it’s been a month since her father died “but it feels like it just happened yesterday as we are struggling to find closure”.

“We took him to the hospital because he was struggling to breathe and he spent many days there before the incident happened. When we visited him he was critically ill and could not even go to the bathroom by himself. He needed assistance.

“So it is not possible for a person who was in that position to sneak out of the hospital without anyone noticing.”

Mathabele recounted how, at 4AM, the hospital called to inform them of her father’s disappearance. Arriving at the hospital in the early hours of the morning, the family joined the search efforts.

Just hours later, the authorities were notified by community members that they had found his body.

Mathabele has since levelled grave accusations of negligence against the hospital, demanding that its management be held accountable for the tragic incident.

“My father was found half naked in underwear with his cellphone next to him. Surprisingly he never had a mental problem, he was only suffering from asthma. We inspected the hospital premises and found that a patient can’t escape without being noticed.”

Apparently, hospital management only met the family a few days after the funeral and failed to offer any reimbursements to the family for the funeral costs.

Advocate July Sibuyi confirmed sending a letter of demand to the Department of Health on the family’s behalf.

“We are suing MEC Sasekani Manzini and the hospital for R40 million due to the negligence that cost the family a breadwinner. The hospital staff has a legal duty to take care of the patient.

“They failed to make sure the deceased was protected at all times. Manzini and her department are liable for the trauma that the family has gone through due to this tragedy,” said Sibuyi.

May Lazarus Mathabele rest in peace and his family find the closure they need.

[source:citizen]