A six-year-old who developed gangrene in both feet will undergo lower limb amputation after the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital obtained permission from the High Court for the surgery, reports The Star.
The legal go-ahead follows the parents’ refusal to agree to medical intervention, insisting on traditional healing instead.
The application was instituted this month on an urgent basis, but Judge Mas-udah Pangarker issued her reasons for the order last Friday. The court also gave the green-light for any associated treatment, including psychological counselling for the child.
The child had suffered from a blood infection caused by bacteria that releases toxins which damage blood vessels, leading to clots, poor circulation and necrosis – which affected the tissue in her feet, leading to gangrene.
She was critically ill when she was admitted to hospital in January and had gone into septic shock. It was noted that her feet had become progressively discoloured, and she was administered morphine for the pain.
According to the hospital, the only medical treatment was amputation of both lower limbs but her parents refused consent, wanting to explore traditional medicine/healing as an option. In their view, she could be cured without surgical intervention and without amputation.
The parents told the hospital that the traditional healing would have to take place in the Eastern Cape, which would entail them having to discharge the girl to enable her to travel.
However, because she was on strong medication, including opioids, the medical team was reluctant to do this, as the result could be fatal.
The hospital had tried to accommodate the parents’ wishes – and even considered allowing her to travel to the Eastern Cape with her parents to meet with the family elders regarding treatment with a traditional healer and to discuss surgical intervention – but then decided against it due to her condition.
The father remained steadfast that his daughter was to attend a traditional ceremony in the Eastern Cape which would heal her, and said he would not return her to Cape Town.
Discussions between a multi-disciplinary team and the parents eventually resulted in the parents asking traditional healers to visit the hospital to assess the child. The healers said they would use oral traditional medication and lotion to cure the girl’s feet, and that there should then be an improvement within four days.
One of the healers said he would be informed spiritually if there were no improvement in her condition and in that case, there would be a change of plan.
However, the hospital’s issue was that traditional healing was not allowed within its premises, and it then spoke to the child’s uncle and explained that the infection could spread further up her legs.
Judge Pangarker said this was not a case where the young patient, the medical team and the hospital, had time at their disposal.
She said while she would not lightly interfere with parents’ rights to consent and care for their child, intervention under the Children’s Act was justified.
The judge added that while the religious beliefs of the family are respected, the surgery is in the best interests of the girl.
The Star Pressreader Article – Court okays amputation of child despite objections (Open access)
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