[imagesource:westend61]

Limpopo health authorities are being forced to fork out more than R4.4 million after a patient suffered severe burns and scarring when the nurses placed a hot water bottle on her chest during childbirth.

The woman, identified as Miss M, turned to the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane, where she claimed millions in damages from the Limpopo MEC for Health.

According to court testimony, her injuries were so severe that she is now unable to engage in strenuous work and has been left feeling depressed and self-conscious.

Miss M accused the nursing staff of negligence for placing the hot water bottle on her chest. The MEC at first denied any liability for Miss M’s injuries, but later had a change of heart and accepted 100% liability for what had happened.

Her harrowing ordeal began in May 2017 when she was admitted to Maphutha L Malatji Hospital in Phalaborwa for the birth of her second child, per IOL.

Hospital nurses opted to summon a doctor when they noticed that she was in labour for a prolonged time. Upon arrival, the doctor determined that a caesarean section was necessary after administering local anaesthesia.

While undergoing the procedure, Miss M expressed feeling cold, so one of the nurses placed a hot water bottle on her chest to provide warmth. Despite Miss M’s complaints of discomfort and pain from the hot water bottle, no action was taken by the medical staff. It was only later, when a relative saw her chest, that Miss M discovered she had been burned by the hot water bottle.

She stayed in the hospital for three days, receiving treatment for the blisters resulting from the burns and doctors advised her against breastfeeding the baby during this time. Miss M returned to the hospital when her condition deteriorated, requiring a two-month stay for further treatment.

Miss M was not able to go back to work for some time as her pain was too much, and she was not able to continue her studies at a FET college, to do a course in human resources or marketing, as the funds had to go towards formula for her baby since her breasts were not able to provide.

According to a medical expert, the plaintiff is psychologically affected by her inability to breastfeed her baby as her breasts were oozing pus. She considered this a missed opportunity to bond with her baby.

She experienced immense pain and discomfort when doing anything in particularly hot or warm weather environments and could not even bend down at times because of the annoyance it would cause on her burned area.

The medical expert testified that Miss M’s breasts cause her pain whenever she lies down because the breasts no longer fall naturally. He further stated that her breasts are permanently disfigured, which she is conscious of and is taking measures to conceal.

Apparently, Miss M, who worked in a tavern, had considered a modelling career before the incident, which is now out of the question as the marks on her breasts and chest are said to be “ugly”.

Judge Violet Semenya saw the scars and agreed that it would impact Miss M’s self-esteem and workability to this degree. The judge thus ordered the MEC to pay the woman R4.4 million, which included compensation for further medical expenses, loss of earnings and general damages.

[source:iol]