Thomas Johnson - Medical Blog

The Western Cape's Independent Health Complaints Committee (IHCC) is dysfunctional. In personal correspondence in September, head of department Dr Beth Engelbrecht said there are “logistical” problems with committee member appointments, whatever that means. Complaints that had been referred to it – I don’t know how many others apart from ours – have been cancelled. Complainants should refer them to the public protector, national health ombudsman and SA Human Rights Commission. She didn't answer when I asked when she expected the IHCC's problems to be resolved and if my complaint would be investigated then. The IHCC’s enabling provincial act does not provide for cancelling complaints that had already been submitted, which makes the cancellation illegal. It's also probable our complaint was the only one cancelled, which if so, is highly irregular. I doubt Engelbrecht's explanation is true, though, because chapter 2, section 18 of the National Health ...

My late mother, Helen, 91, died on July 7, 2017 at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.   She was admitted to the hospital’s Trauma Unit on July 6 after falling at home. It was discovered she broke her femur. Despite her age, she was fit to be candidate for surgery the following day as part of a world-wide trial. But overnight her breathing worsened and we were summoned to the hospital. But beyond the doctor’s immediate concern for her breathing, her life was not in imminent danger. She was stable and breathing unaided, on morphine for pain, but unconscious.   One of my sisters remained with her until midday and later reported that according to the doctors, she was “holding her own” and could recover.    However, unbeknown to us, during the second half of July 7 her condition worsened. On visiting her that evening during visiting hours, we were shocked to discover her on life support (intubated), comatose and her condition very serious. We had not been n...