More than a month after their son’s death at Madadeni Provincial Hospital, a family is no nearer to closure.
They are now seeking legal recourse against the health facility.
James Douglas Nienaber went into hospital at the end of August 2017.
His family had no idea it would spark a chain of events leading to his death at the age of 52.
Stepfather, Ronnie Pienaar described the harrowing experience.
“At the end of August last year, he couldn’t hold a screwdriver, and he complained of pins and needles in his arm.”
Initially suspecting James had suffered a pinched nerve, Ronnie took him to hospital the next morning at around 5.30am.
By that time, James couldn’t feel his hand or even use it.
Ronnie said they went from department to department, queue to queue and doctor to doctor.
By 4pm, he said staff were beginning to depart for the day.
A desperate Ronnie pleaded with staff for medication for James.
Numbness had spread across the shoulders and left him barely able to sit upright.
“He was only seen to at around 9.30pm.”
For the full story involving Madadeni Provincial Hospital, read this week’s Newcastle Advertiser.
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