Two Eastern Cape mothers have both won their cases against the Eastern Cape Health Department for negligence during the deliveries of their babies. The Herald reports in the first matter heard before Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) Judge Bantubonke Tokota, the mother instituted a claim after her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Tokota found that there was negligence on the part of Frere Hospital in acting in accordance with the Guidelines for Maternity Care in SA in that the proper measures to treat and prevent the damages the baby suffered were not taken in good time.
Tokota further ordered that the Health Department pay damages to the mother and her child. In the other case, Eastern Cape High Court (Bhisho) Judge Gerald Bloem ruled in favour of a woman whose daughter suffered severe brain damage after being deprived of oxygen before birth.
Bloem found that nursing staff at Dr Malizo Mpehle hospital were negligent in the treatment of the mother and her unborn child in that they did not monitor the infant’s heart rate and mother’s blood pressure at sufficient intervals. Bloem ordered that the Health Department be held liable for all the damages the mother could prove and that the department be held liable for the costs of the trial.
[link url="http://herald.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/showarticle.aspx?article=a225085c-f41d-45f7-94cd-e8d505a0a224&key=33JbGpL0wD7m9TUTuI8iNg%3d%3d&issue=81472019120200000000001001"]The Herald report[/link]