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...
Blog on medical and health matters with a focus on the Western Cape's public health system.