Bereaved parents sue health ministry for N$1.9m

Six years after their 10-year-old daughter's death due to severe blood loss following a tonsillectomy at Khorixas hospital, the girl's are suing the health ministry for N$1.9 million in damages.According to the Thewelensia /Naris, her daughter had suffered from frequent bouts of tonsillitis. The girl's death certificate indicated she died as a result of suffocation due to blood inhalation and severe blood loss after a tonsillectomy in April 2018.The case has been postponed to today for the parties to discuss whether to proceed with settlement negotiations or trial.Judge Nate Ndauendapo has been assigned to preside over the matter.Last days According to /Naris, she took her daughter to hospital in April 2018, and her child was scheduled for a tonsillectomy the following day.According to her claim, there were no signs of chronic illness or any history of bleeding observed in the child at that time.Shortly after the operation, her daughter allegedly began bleeding from her mouth. She was taken back to the operating room to determine the cause, but no active bleeding was detected.On 11 April 2018, a day after the operation, the child was discharged.Two days after the operation, /Naris took her daughter back to the hospital after she had started vomiting blood and experienced general weakness and no appetite. The child was subsequently admitted for observation.According to court documents, three hours after being readmitted, the child again began vomiting blood and was taken back to the operating room. The child reportedly received two units of blood and was returned to the general ward in a stable condition.Twenty-four hours later, while walking outside the ward, the child reportedly began bleeding again. Despite efforts to save her life, she died.NegligenceAn expert opinion submitted to the court, requested by the health ministry from Dr Martha Konstantin, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, stated:“The patient was taken to the operating room for examination under anesthesia. No active bleeding was observed, but inflammation of the soft palate was noted. The patient was transfused with two units of blood and returned to the ward in stable condition."According to Konstantin, while the patient was walking outside the ward, she was reported to have vomited blood. Medical notes indicated that approximately 500 ml of blood was observed coming from the mouth, and the patient suddenly became pale and restless."I wasn't present during the patient's clinical examination, but based on the doctors' notes and findings, I agree that the medical history and clinical exam could have been more thorough. Key information, such as any history of bleeding disorders before surgery, was inadequately documented."

Bereaved parents sue health ministry for N$1.9m

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-11

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Bereaved parents sue health ministry for N$1.9m

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-11

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