Family to take legal action after relative dies at Wentworth hospital
The family of Anthony Santana is waiting for the autopsy results to determine the cause of death.
FOLLOWING complaints of patient neglect and mistreatment, a frail Anthony Santana died on Saturday, 20 March at Wentworth Hospital.
The aggrieved family, who plans to open a civil case against the hospital, is waiting for the autopsy results, which is expected this week, to determine the cause of death. They alleged that 71-year-old Santana was not given the urgency nor the medical attention he needed from the hospital.
READ: Family demand answers over ill treatment at Wentworth Hospital
The family’s woes began on Monday, 8 February, when the frail Santana was rushed to Wentworth Hospital for severe dehydration after he had not been able to eat or drink anything for two weeks. However, according to the family, the ailing man was only seen four hours later. X-rays taken showed that he had a severe lung infection and cracked vertebra.
He was sent home with just painkillers and told to return a week later. “By Monday, 15 February, he had already lost 30kg, which was more than half his body weight. My uncle and aunt waited 14 hours at the hospital before he was admitted. This is 14 hours without food or drink. Although blood tests were done, no results or a treatment plan was discussed with the family,” said Santana’s niece, Morgan Jordaan, who added that her uncle was in excruciating pain.
READ: UPDATE: Department intervenes in ailing man’s hospital maltreatment
A comment on the passing of Santana from the KZN health department was not forthcoming by the time of going to print, however it had said that it viewed reports of the maltreatment of an elderly man at Wentworth Hospital seriously and found them concerning.
The spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health, Ntokozo Maphisa, said although he is prohibited from publicly discussing confidential information pertaining to the clinical management of patients and related details, investigations were underway.
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