Patient commits suicide on hospital premises
AUCKLAND PARK - Gauteng MEC commissions investigation into suicide at Helen Joseph Hospital.
A Helen Joseph Tertiary Hospital patient died in the early hours of 3 December after an alleged suicide, sanews.gov.za reported
According to the provincial department, it is believed that the patient took a plunge from the seventh floor and died from the injuries he sustained.
The patient was apparently being treated for organophosphate poisoning after drinking herbal medicine and excessive alcohol at home.
He was brought to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit last Saturday where he was resuscitated to save his life. He was then taken to the Intensive Care Unit where he was closely monitored until Monday, when he was moved to a medical ward.
“The nurses last saw him at about 5:30am when he was going to the bathroom. After about 20 minutes, the nurses noted that he was not back in his bed and they knocked in the bathroom,” the hospital’s CEO Dr Raymond Billa told sanews.gov.za
“When there was no response, they opened the door and noted that he was not there and the window had been opened. As hospital staff searched for the patient, a cleaner saw a body lying on the ground floor and immediately alerted the nurses and security.”
Police were at the scene and have initiated forensic investigation.
Gauteng MEC for Health Hope Papo has reportedly launched an investigation following the incident.
Papo has instructed the quality assurance team from the department’s head office to conduct an immediate investigation and provide a report to him as soon as possible.
Hospital personnel have also been instructed to co-operate with the police investigation.
“This is a tragic incident that must be investigated in detail to provide us with full information about how it happened and whether it could have been prevented,” Papo told sanews.gov.za
“Our condolences will be conveyed to the family and we would like to assure the people of Gauteng that there will be a thorough investigation.”
According to sanews.gov.za the patient’s family has been called to the hospital for a briefing and they will be offered psycho-social support to assist them in dealing with their loss.
The staff members who also witnessed the incident will also be offered counselling to help them deal with the trauma.
