Pretoria doctor caused man’s death from malaria, court finds

A Pretoria general practitioner was not only found to have negligently caused the death of a longtime patient from malaria, but has also been also reported to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Acting Judge Heidi Barnes ruled in the High Court in Pretoria yesterday that Pretoria GP Dr Juergen “Koos” Odendaal had negligently caused the death of Pretoria paramedic Anthony Boucher, who died of cerebral malaria in March 2015, and must compensate Boucher’s widow Maritza for the loss of support and emotional shock she suffered.

Barnes found Odendaal’s negligence was of such a nature that it warranted the attention of the HPCSA and ordered that her judgment be brought to the professional body’s attention.

The amount of damages that must be paid to Mrs Boucher still has to be determined.

Boucher’s widow testified that her husband had gone to Liberia late in 2014 to help with the establishment of Ebola treatment centres.

He was not feeling well when he returned home in March 2015 and sent several SMS messages to Odendaal, including a complaint that he had a high temperature.

Odendaal told him he had to be tested for malaria but only saw Boucher three days later, when he drew blood for malaria, diagnosed Boucher with a bladder infection and prescribed antibiotics.

The doctor insisted he had thereafter sent a text message to Boucher over the weekend saying he had malaria but later admitted it was sent to the wrong phone number and he never tried to phone Boucher or his wife to make sure they received his messages.

Instead he assumed he went to another GP for treatment.

Boucher’s widow said when she had asked Odendaal after her husband’s death why he had not tried to phone them, he became agitated and aggressive, shouted at her that she should have ensured her husband was hospitalised and escorted her roughly from his rooms.

Barnes said Odendaal was Boucher’s GP, was duty-bound to tell him he had malaria and urgently needed treatment, and should have made sure Boucher had received his message.

– ilsedl@citizen.co.za

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