News / Africa
Man accuses nurse of causing his finger to be amputated
14 Aug 2015 at 06:49hrs | Views
A man from Delareyville in South Africa who got pierced by a thorn on his finger has accused the nurse at Vrisgewacht Clinic for causing his finger to be cut after inserting a syringe into the hole made by the thorn.
When a thorn pierced the little finger of his left hand three years ago, Johannes Lebicweang didn't realise it would be the beginning of his agony.
He removed the thorn but his finger soon became swollen and he went to Vrisgewacht Clinic, near Delareyville.
"A nursing sister inserted a syringe into the hole made by the thorn.
"It was so painful, I pushed her away," said Johannes.
"A few days later, I found the finger was becoming septic and I went back.
"They told me the sister had gone to work somewhere else."
Johannes said he was advised to go to Delareyville Hospital, where a nurse told him he should have been referred to a doctor by the first nurse.
On hearing this, Johannes went to report the matter to the Tswaing Local Municipality,s health department.
"The official told me to go to the hospital.
"I was eventually referred to Klerksdorp Hospital, where I was told my entire arm would be affected if the finger wasn,t amputated," said Johannes.
In the end, the finger had to be amputated. Johannes wants the health department to pay him as he blames it on the nurse,s negligence.
"People in my family shouldn,t have operations.
"I almost died on the operating table, my brother died during an operation a few years ago and my gogo died on the day I had my operation," he said.
North West Health spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said: "The department is aware of this case.
"The nurse will appear before the Patient Safety Group for questioning. However, at this time there is no conclusive finding.
"An internal investigation will be carried out to establish the facts."
When a thorn pierced the little finger of his left hand three years ago, Johannes Lebicweang didn't realise it would be the beginning of his agony.
He removed the thorn but his finger soon became swollen and he went to Vrisgewacht Clinic, near Delareyville.
"A nursing sister inserted a syringe into the hole made by the thorn.
"It was so painful, I pushed her away," said Johannes.
"A few days later, I found the finger was becoming septic and I went back.
"They told me the sister had gone to work somewhere else."
Johannes said he was advised to go to Delareyville Hospital, where a nurse told him he should have been referred to a doctor by the first nurse.
On hearing this, Johannes went to report the matter to the Tswaing Local Municipality,s health department.
"The official told me to go to the hospital.
"I was eventually referred to Klerksdorp Hospital, where I was told my entire arm would be affected if the finger wasn,t amputated," said Johannes.
In the end, the finger had to be amputated. Johannes wants the health department to pay him as he blames it on the nurse,s negligence.
"People in my family shouldn,t have operations.
"I almost died on the operating table, my brother died during an operation a few years ago and my gogo died on the day I had my operation," he said.
North West Health spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said: "The department is aware of this case.
"The nurse will appear before the Patient Safety Group for questioning. However, at this time there is no conclusive finding.
"An internal investigation will be carried out to establish the facts."
Source - Daily Sun
