“They laughed in my face”: Widow alleges hospital neglect led to husband’s death in KwaDukuza
She says she was told by the nurses that at night doctors were only called in an emergency, and that her husband did not qualify.
KwaDukuza’s regional hospital has been accused of negligence following the death of 65-year-old Gert Pieterse (aka Uncle Tuk Tuk), a resident of Good Luck Farms in Tinley Manor, who died in the hospital on August 27.
Before he retired in 2020, Gert operated Ballito’s beloved Tuk Tuk and was a well-known figure to residents and holidaymakers.
His wife, Isabel Pieterse, believes his death could have been prevented if he had received timely care at General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital (GJGM).
Gert, a double amputee who was suffering from arterial insufficiency, was admitted to the hospital shortly after 8am on the morning of August 27 after experiencing severe lower abdominal pain and losing bladder and bowel control.
According to Isabel, despite being admitted early in the day, his condition worsened with minimal medical attention.
She alleges her husband lay unattended in the trauma unit and was only admitted to the male surgical ward at 2pm that afternoon.
When the family arrived during the 6.30pm visiting hours, they found Gert in a deteriorated state.
“We found Gert confused, in severe pain, with his lower abdomen distended and tender to the touch,” Isabel said. “His drip had fallen out, his catheter was barely draining, and the bed was soiled with blood and faeces.”
Recognising the signs of a medical emergency, Isabel, who is a trained nurse, immediately raised the alarm with the four nurses on duty in the ward.
“I told them Gert was an emergency, as this was not the condition he left my house in that morning. I told them I was a nurse and could see he needed immediate help. They laughed in my face,” said Isabel.
“Gert’s oxygen levels had dropped below 70 percent, and he was in visible distress, with shallow breathing, a pulse rate above 100, and severe dehydration. As a trained nurse, I knew my husband was going to die,” she said.
She was told by the nurses that at night doctors were only called in an emergency, and that her husband did not qualify.
“A friend of mine contacted management and a doctor arrived 10 minutes later,” she said, but by that time Isabel said her husband had allegedly developed Cheyne-Stokes breathing, a sign of impending respiratory failure. Although resuscitation efforts began, it was too late. Gert died in front of his wife and son.
Isabel and her husband are no strangers to the hospital. Two years ago, Gert began showing signs of arterial insufficiency, which led to a small ulcer on his right foot.
This eventually resulted in two leg amputations – one at Albert Luthuli Hospital in February last year, and another at GJGM in September of the same year.
Isabel claims the second amputation was performed in the middle of the night, under spinal anesthesia, with her husband remembering every detail of the procedure.
“The day I took him home, he made me promise never to let him go back there again,” she said.
Now, the Pieterse family is demanding accountability from GJGM, with Isabel asserting that negligence and a lack of urgency led to her husband’s death.
Isabel has reported her claims of neglect to the hospital.
The KZN health department said they would investigate the case before responding.
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