Family traumatised after “unexplained” death at Ladysmith Provincial Hospital
The family feel that the hospital should have had the decency to inform the family as soon as they realised his condition was critical
Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences anyone can go through. What is even more heartbreaking is when you are left without any answers as to why that person died.
This is what the Motto-Ros family is currently experiencing.
78-year-old Peter John Motto-Ros died at Ladysmith Provincial Hospital on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Peter John was a great-grandfather, an ‘oupa’, a loving husband and a great friend.
In an exclusive interview with the family, daughters Tracy van der Westhuizen and Angelika Viljoen told the Ladysmith Gazette that the family has been traumatised by his sudden death. Mr Motto-Ros was admitted to hospital on Sunday, September 29, after complaining of severe stomach pain at home. He was taken to the hospital by a local ambulance service. Tracy recalls that the family sat for hours waiting for someone to help their dad in the casualty ward. Mr Motto-Ros was checked in by the doctor on duty, and went for X-rays and scans.
The doctor told the family that he thought the pain and distress was probably being caused by kidney stones. The elderly man was admitted into hospital and the family visited him that afternoon, as well as on Monday. Tracy says her dad was still in pain when they visited him on the Monday.
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On Tuesday afternoon, October 1, the hospital phoned Peter John’s wife, Marie Motto-Ros, to say that they needed her to sign consent forms for her husband to go to theatre. She immediately went to the hospital, along with other family members, and signed the forms. At around 5pm, Peter John was wheeled into theatre. The family sat in the waiting room to hear the outcome of the operation. Tracy says they waited four hours until finally, at about 9pm, they asked one of the nurses if they could see their dad and were taken to him.
“My dad hadn’t had the operation yet and he wasn’t himself. He did not speak to us; it was like he was in his own world. He didn’t even seem to recognise us,” explained a still distraught Tracy. “He was lying on the bed unattended and still waiting after so many hours to be operated on,” added Tracy.
Eventually, the family went back home. Angelika Viljoen, his other daughter, kept on phoning the hospital to ask about his condition. Angelika phoned again at around 10.15pm, at which time she was told that the operation was done and that Peter John had been moved to ICU. They did not mention his condition, even when asked.
On Wednesday, October 2, at 8am, the entire family went to the hospital to see Mr Motto-Ros. They went to ICU and asked one of the nurses about his condition. What the nurse told them was shocking! “I am sorry but your husband is dead.”
When the hospital staff were questioned as to when and how the patient had died, they only commented that he had “just died.” They were escorted to a bed where the deceased was lying. He was wrapped in plastic.
The family is furious with the hospital. They feel that firstly the hospital should have had the decency to inform the family as soon as they realised his condition was critical, in order for them to say their goodbyes. Instead, the hospital staff did nothing and seemingly waited for them to come to the hospital. Secondly, the family feel that their husband / father had passed away several hours earlier due to the fact that rigor mortis had already set in, and the hospital staff had already wrapped him in plastic. They feel that no professional procedures were followed and no dignity was shown to their family.
Tracy says the hospital told them that the cause of death was an ulcer eruption. “We find that very hard to believe and no information has been given to us,” says Tracy.
Ladysmith Provincial Hospital commented by saying the following: “Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention. We have noted the concerns of the family and we are busy investigating this incident. Once we have concluded our investigation, we will be in a position to comment further on these issues. But we are encouraging the family to come to the hospital, because some of the issues or concerns raised cannot be addressed on this platform.”
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