Jadene’s death must not be in vain, says devastated dad

JADENE Naidoo, was the apple of her parents eye. The straight-A student’s death has left her close-knit family devastated and forced them to take legal action against St Augustine’s Hospital in a R8 million rand claim for medical negligence after she died in the hospital’s care nearly two weeks after she was in a car accident.

Trevor Naidoo speaking to Berea Mail this week, recalled the nightmare the family has endured since Jadene’s accident on Rick Turner Road on 9 September. “She was on her way to campus to write a test. I got the call and when I got there they already had her in an ambulance and I met them at the trauma unit. Various doctors were checking on her and an orthopedic surgeon admitted her while a plastic surgeon said her eye was injured and her lip was deeply cut so suggested that she may need surgery. While we were in the trauma room she complained of pain in her abdominal area. We were told there was nothing seriously wrong and she had suffered no broken bones but a hairline fracture to her pelvis which would heal on its own,” he explained.

Naidoo said hours passed before the family received confirmation that she didn’t need other surgery. He said he had physically checked to make sure the scans and x-rays were received by the doctor. “We had to wait hours to ensure there was no other surgery she needed as the plastic surgeon was planning to do the facial surgery the following day.. She was eventually transferred to the ICU.

“That night we had to run after the doctors to get feedback after visiting hours. The general surgeon told us there was nothing wrong with her and we had nothing to worry about,” he said.

After a successful facial operation, Jadene was moved to the surgical ward. “She again complained of being in severe pain. I tried to get hold of the doctor but the nurses said we couldn’t contact the doctor so we just tried to calm her down, despite feeling so helpless because the patients around her said she had been moaning in pain,” he said.

“This is the worst thing that has happened to our family, I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. I tried to get to speak to the doctors and tell them she was being neglected because the nurses were slow to respond or just ignored her. She couldn’t handle the pain. I tried to change the doctor, but Jadene said the doctor had told her to stop whining and to get on her feet and start walking,” he said.

The desperate father was given excuses every time he tried to get answers from nurses and eventually on the Sunday evening, when he could see Jadene’s condition seemed critical ,despite doctors telling him that she was fine, he spoke to ward manager. “She said she would come to the ward and find out what was happening and deal with any issues with nurses. During the visiting hours we managed to get hold of the doctor only to find out he was on his way out the country. He said his partners would have a look at Jade. When his partner finally saw her he was shocked and acknowledged something was seriously wrong and said a team of doctors would have to see to her the next day,” he said.

The family’s renewed hope in a new set of doctors was short lived when they got a call urgently calling them to the hospital. “They said she was critical. They needed to induce a coma and she needed surgery because her small bowel was ruptured. We rushed over and waited and were told she would need a few clean ups to get the toxin out of her body,” he said.

The devastated father said Jade had undergone three clean ups that week but doctors could only tell the family they were trying their best and the family should pray. “They then handed her case over to a trauma specialist who tried to change the antibiotics and I felt confident again. That night we were again called to the hospital and received bad news that her blood stream toxin levels were too high and she needed dialysis. The next day the family rushed to hospital again. “This time we were trembling with fear driving there. The nurse said we could hold her and pray. I was shocked and collapsed because I knew what that meant. When I came to, I together with her mum, sister and close family held her and prayed. Then the lines stopped moving and she was gone,” he said through tears.

Naidoo and his wife, Pathmavathy have been battling to deal with the loss of their daughter. “We can’t eat or sleep and have to try to be brave for our younger daughter Teyah,” he said.

“We are such proud parents and don’t want Jade’s death to be in vain. I went the route of instituting legal action becasue there are many people out there that have had similar experiences, some have a financial issue and don’t follow up with legal action and others give up because the pain is too much but the arrogance from these doctors was too much. She knew something was wrong and we trusted the doctors and hospital.

“Our intention is to show them that we are not just a number, but are human beings that are looking for an apology and for them to admit they were wrong and never let something like this happen again. They have to think twice and not take someone’s pain for granted,” he added.

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In response to a request for comment from St Augustine’s Hospital, Dr Augusta Dorning, general manager at the hospital said the hospital regretted the passing of Jadene Naidoo. “We wish to convey our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones. As a summons has been served on the hospital this case is now sub judice and we are not in a position to comment,” .