But while for most of us a simple “I’m sorry” will do, doctors, quite literally, hold our lives in their hands. A mistake at the hands of a surgeon or physician can result in the loss of limb – or more scarily, of life.
It has been reported that medical malpractice claims have cost you and I, the taxpayer, a staggering R25 000 000 000. That’s right, about twenty five billion rand!
So, what’s going on?
Unfortunately, all the usual suspects, I’m afraid. Wrong limbs amputated, inadvertent genital mutilation, rampant infection and amputation seem rife. But, unfortunately, that’s not where it ends. One woman was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, she underwent three months of chemotherapy and had a double mastectomy – only to discover that she had never had cancer in the first place. What amount of money could compensate her for the loss of her breasts and the months of trauma she endured? She got R2.8 million in compensation for her womanhood.
And what about the baby who was born prematurely but healthy in a private hospital? The baby was given too much oxygen after her birth which resulted in her going blind and developing cerebral palsy.
While the claim is still being calculated, it is expected that it will amount to an estimated R30 million. This child, despite being blind and having cerebral palsy still has a normal life span and therefore the claim includes all future loss of income and future medical expenses. This will be resolved by insurance companies since the incident took place at a private hospital. But the question still begs – why is so much going so wrong?
We revere doctors, most of us think of them as miracle workers and certainly more enlightened than us mere mortals.
I suppose, as humans, we are all fallible, and we need to remember that modern medicine is still part science, part alchemy, and part mystery.
While the casualties are unacceptable, the question to be asked is how are we as a country failing our doctors who are in turn failing us?
Garry Hertzberg is practicing attorney at Dewey Hertzberg Levy attorneys and the host of The Laws of Life on cliffcentral.com
How do you think that we, as a country, are failing doctors who fail us? Share your views by leaving a comment below.
