GRAPHIC IMAGES: Hospital blamed for gaping stomach wounds
"My sons have to see me like this."
A MAN is fighting for his life and his dignity following an operation that has left him in an intolerable condition.
Iemeraan Mohamed (49) from Chrisville said that he went to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for an operation on January 25, only to be left with gaping, unhealed stomach wounds that most people would cringe to look at.
Mohamed, who is a father of three children, told the COURIER he is afraid he could die as he can’t do anything in the state he has been left in.
Mohamed said the operation was to reverse a colon blockage in his stomach. He went in for his first operation in April 2017, to insert a tube in his stomach in order to drain stomach juices and fluids. The tube is designed to remain in place for prolonged periods, and he said that the tube was draining fluids easily.
According to Mohamed, doctors at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital first thought he had cancer, but later diagnosed him as having a blockage in his stomach. That’s when they made a hole in his stomach and provided a bag for him to drain fluids with.
Mohamed further stated that a doctor from the hospital said they would in due course reverse the process so he would no longer need the bag.
In January Mohamed went back to the hospital and on January 25 he was booked into theatre for a five-hour operation.
He does not remember what happened after theatre, but said the doctor told his wife that he had a blood clot in his lungs as well as kidney problems.
“I find it unbelievable as the tests I went through before the operation were clear,” he said.
He explained that he was told that during the operation, the doctor would cut and join a piece of his colon, thus enabling him to live without the drainage tube and bag.
On the following morning, January 26, four doctors accompanied by students came into his ward. Mohamed told the COURIER that a doctor snipped the stitches open, saying this was necessary because the wound was septic.
“I don’t understand why I was left with two open and undressed wounds after the doctor snipped open the stitches.” Apart from the open wound from the latest operation, the wound from which the bag was removed was also left open and gaping.
He was discharged on February 8 and said that since then he has been unable to sleep.
“I can’t walk long distances or even eat certain foods due to two morbidly open wounds on my stomach.”
An emotional Mohamed said he had been treated extremely negligently and that he wanted to the situation to be rectified.
He demanded answers as to why he was discharged with open wounds which could easily accumulate more infection at home.
“My sons have to see me like this,” a tearful Mohamed said.
The COURIER has contacted the Department of Health on the matter. The department has confirmed receiving the enquiry and said they would provide a response in due course.
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