Mother sues Mediclinic for N$1.5m

A Windhoek mother is suing Windhoek Mediclinic and a paediatrician for N$1.5 million in the Windhoek High Court, alleging negligence caused her then seven-month-old daughter to suffer severe brain damage, paralysis and loss of sight and hearing.

According to court documents, the child was admitted to the hospital's emergency department in April 2019 with diarrhoea, and nursing staff allegedly could not administer an intravenous drip on two consecutive days.

The mother claims the paediatrician recommended treatment telephonically without physically assessing the child until her condition critically deteriorated.

The girl was born on 4 September 2018 and was just seven months old when she was admitted to the hospital’s emergency department on 28 April 2019.

The lawsuit accuses the doctor of failing to physically attend to the baby despite being aware that the nursing staff could not administer the drip over the two days.

The baby's condition worsened sharply, with the diarrhoea becoming profuse and watery, no longer containable by a diaper, according to court documents.

The mother claims the doctor failed to act with reasonable urgency despite being informed of her deterioration.

By the late afternoon of 29 April, the documents state, the child had critically deteriorated and become unresponsive.

The doctor was informed and attended to the child, administering the intravenous drip and admitting her to the intensive care unit, the documents state.

With the help of another paediatrician, the baby reportedly began therapy, including physiotherapy, and was discharged after about a month before being referred to West Care Centre.

The mother claims a stem cell implant was later performed at Omuramba Day Theatre to assist the child's brain development but was unsuccessful.

According to the lawsuit, the baby suffered severe and prolonged pain and brain damage, and is now blind, cannot talk and is paralysed.

She also requires a specialised wheelchair, which the mother says she cannot afford, leaving her to carry the child around.

The mother claims the hospital had a duty to ensure the child received appropriate medical care from suitably trained medical and nursing staff.

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