Grieving mum blames baby’s death on student nurse error
The mother of a 16-month-old baby who died three years ago claims a first-year nursing student’s unsupervised actions led to her daughter’s death after the incorrect administration of medication at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital in August 2022.
Silvia Shiyova has filed a lawsuit against the health ministry and others, claiming that the student nurse was attending to her daughter, Albertina Shiyova, as part of her attachment to the hospital through a University of Namibia (Unam) training programme.
According to court documents filed in the Windhoek High Court, the student allegedly administered potassium chloride (KCl) intravenously instead of orally, as prescribed, while working unsupervised in the paediatric ward, according to the plaintiffs.
When KCl is administered through a vein, it must be mixed with fluid and given slowly under close medical supervision. KCL is a medication used to treat low levels of potassium in the body, which is important for keeping the heart, muscles and nerves working properly.
In this case, the KCl was meant to be given by mouth but was, according to the lawsuit, instead injected straight into the baby’s vein.
Alleged irreversible harm
The child had been admitted for treatment of severe dehydration linked to gastroenteritis and was said to be in a stable condition prior to the incident.
Shiyova claims in court documents that moments after the injection, her daughter suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to intensive care, where she remained in a coma and later developed complications that led to her death on 17 September 2022.
Sylvia and a relative, Hilja Indongo, are now suing the government, the health ministry, and Onandjokwe hospital staff for N$400 000 for medical negligence and emotional distress caused by the incident.
At the time of publishing, the health ministry and the other accused parties had not yet filed their responding affidavits. The matter appeared before judge Boas Usiku in the Windhoek High Court last week for a case planning conference. Shiyova is represented by lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni.
[email protected]
Silvia Shiyova has filed a lawsuit against the health ministry and others, claiming that the student nurse was attending to her daughter, Albertina Shiyova, as part of her attachment to the hospital through a University of Namibia (Unam) training programme.
According to court documents filed in the Windhoek High Court, the student allegedly administered potassium chloride (KCl) intravenously instead of orally, as prescribed, while working unsupervised in the paediatric ward, according to the plaintiffs.
When KCl is administered through a vein, it must be mixed with fluid and given slowly under close medical supervision. KCL is a medication used to treat low levels of potassium in the body, which is important for keeping the heart, muscles and nerves working properly.
In this case, the KCl was meant to be given by mouth but was, according to the lawsuit, instead injected straight into the baby’s vein.
Alleged irreversible harm
The child had been admitted for treatment of severe dehydration linked to gastroenteritis and was said to be in a stable condition prior to the incident.
Shiyova claims in court documents that moments after the injection, her daughter suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to intensive care, where she remained in a coma and later developed complications that led to her death on 17 September 2022.
Sylvia and a relative, Hilja Indongo, are now suing the government, the health ministry, and Onandjokwe hospital staff for N$400 000 for medical negligence and emotional distress caused by the incident.
At the time of publishing, the health ministry and the other accused parties had not yet filed their responding affidavits. The matter appeared before judge Boas Usiku in the Windhoek High Court last week for a case planning conference. Shiyova is represented by lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni.
[email protected]
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