Mother awaiting probe into botched operation

THE mother of a young woman who lost her womb because of alleged negligence at the Windhoek Central Hospital’s maternity ward is still awaiting the findings of an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Heath and the Interim Nursing Council of Namibia.

Alma Eliaser says she still plans to file a N$20 million lawsuit for damages. Her daughter, a 20-year-old Grade 10 student, gave birth normally to a baby girl on March 13 2003, but was taken to an operating theatre soon afterwards because of excessive bleeding.She spent the next four days bleeding and was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit with an enlarged heart and kidney failure.On the fifth day, a gynaecologist was called in and found that the young woman had an infection in the uterus because part of the placenta had not been removed.They operated on the uterus and found a section of placenta stuck near the cervix and had to perform a hysterectomy – remove the womb.Eliaser said when the Ministry of Health failed to get back to her after almost three years, she approached the Interim Nursing Council of Namibia in January this year to investigate the case.An official at the Council told The Namibian this week that they were still waiting for the patient records from the Ministry of Health.”We will start with the preliminary investigation once we have the records.It is taking time but we are busy.The preliminary investigation committee is comprised of experts from all over Namibia and they only meet every three months,” she said.The Council official said they have informed Eliaser that they will get back to her once they have the records and have gone through the preliminary investigation.Eliaser, a trained nurse, claims that her daughter’s life has been “destroyed” through the alleged negligence of “supposedly trained” medical staff.She says there is now only a slim chance of her daughter finding a husband because she would be unable to give birth.She said the young woman had been briefed “bit by bit” on what had happened to her and needed to see a psychologist.”Right now, the only positive thing and encouragement to her is that she has her baby girl by her side,” she told The Namibian.The Ministry confirmed the case but declined to comment because the matter has been referred to the office of the Government Attorney for legal advice.The Ministry said the family was free to take up its concerns with the office of the Government Attorney.Her daughter, a 20-year-old Grade 10 student, gave birth normally to a baby girl on March 13 2003, but was taken to an operating theatre soon afterwards because of excessive bleeding.She spent the next four days bleeding and was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit with an enlarged heart and kidney failure.On the fifth day, a gynaecologist was called in and found that the young woman had an infection in the uterus because part of the placenta had not been removed.They operated on the uterus and found a section of placenta stuck near the cervix and had to perform a hysterectomy – remove the womb.Eliaser said when the Ministry of Health failed to get back to her after almost three years, she approached the Interim Nursing Council of Namibia in January this year to investigate the case.An official at the Council told The Namibian this week that they were still waiting for the patient records from the Ministry of Health.”We will start with the preliminary investigation once we have the records.It is taking time but we are busy.The preliminary investigation committee is comprised of experts from all over Namibia and they only meet every three months,” she said.The Council official said they have informed Eliaser that they will get back to her once they have the records and have gone through the preliminary investigation.Eliaser, a trained nurse, claims that her daughter’s life has been “destroyed” through the alleged negligence of “supposedly trained” medical staff.She says there is now only a slim chance of her daughter finding a husband because she would be unable to give birth.She said the young woman had been briefed “bit by bit” on what had happened to her and needed to see a psychologist.”Right now, the only positive thing and encouragement to her is that she has her baby girl by her side,” she told The Namibian.The Ministry confirmed the case but declined to comment because the matter has been referred to the office of the Government Attorney for legal advice.The Ministry said the family was free to take up its concerns with the office of the Government Attorney.