Woman claims to have been misdiagnosed at Randburg Clinic
This follows a woman claiming she was misdiagnosed at Randburg Clinic.
The City of Joburg has clarified where and how people can make complaints about staff, treatments and alleged misdiagnoses at its clinics.
This comes after a woman contacted Randburg Sun claiming she had been given medication for a stomach ulcer when she later found out she was pregnant and was allegedly told this medication could be harmful to the child.
The City of Joburg’s manager for Region B clinics Maria Makhalemele acknowledged receipt of a complaint about this specific matter.
City of Joburg spokesperson Virgil James explained the woman’s claim. “[The patient] was contacted by the operations manager to discuss the matter… and indicated that she had been given Lansoloc for her abdominal pain in June [by the doctor] [clinical notes show that she was highly constipated] but she returned as she was not getting better.”
When examined the second time, a pregnancy test was done that showed the patient was four months pregnant.
“[The patient] subsequently said that she was told that the medication given was not good for her baby, hence the complaint. The manager read the effects of Lansoloc on unborn babies but she [the patient] apparently insisted that the baby could have psychological problems in the future. She also said that she had a scan but no abnormalities were detected. Her files were also checked but there was no evidence of her account in the files. There were no entries in the files by the doctor and only supplements were prescribed for her by the ANC [antenatal care] nurse.”
The doctor spoke with the patient and reiterated the tablets posed no harm to the baby, James added.
“He [the doctor] also noted that since she was eight months pregnant there was a minimal chance that the tablets could have affected her baby. She was happy with the discussions and that she would be going for another scan thus ending any speculation of misdiagnosis.”
Acting director of primary health care at the City of Joburg Marouse Diale advised residents to submit complaints in writing at their clinics. Otherwise, patients could email complaints to dorothyd@joburg.org.za
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