Bluff minor mistreated and misdiagnosed at Durban hospital

A BLUFF mother is appalled by the service she received at a Durban hospital recently when her seven-year-old daughter fell ill.

Storm Welk’s autistic daughter, Trinity Dalton, 7, fell sick towards the end of September, before her monthly medical check-ups.

“She cried every time she urinated, stating that she was experiencing pain and a burning sensation. I took her for a check-up and I explained my daughter’s symptoms. I also had a medical letter, which explains that my daughter was born with a deformity in her genital area and would require surgery to correct it. It is for this reason that she is more susceptible to infections,” Storm said.

With little assistance, she rushed her daughter to King Edward VIII Hospital children’s outpatient department the next day.

She detailed her experience and allegations from the medical staff.

“I waited for five hours with my little girl who was cold, tired, in pain and hungry. Eventually, a male nurse came to us said my husband had to leave the hospital due to Covid-19 regulations. I explained to him that I needed to be accompanied by my husband as I am wheelchair-bound and that he is my carer. The doctor called us in and examined Trinity and did a urine test. The doctor gave us a sarcastic response and said she wasn’t sure how to assist my daughter. We were told to return the following week, with no treatment or medication.”

It was upon return to the same hospital that Storm was informed that the urine sample they had taken spilled and Trinity would need to do another one.

“The doctor requested a sonogram for her kidneys because she was concerned about Trinity’s previous urinary tract infections (UTI), although they didn’t know if she actually had an infection. The doctor was so rough while examining her that she started crying. It was concluded that Trinity had fluid in the kidneys and a blockage from the kidneys to the bladder. We were referred to a gynae, who listed my daughter as aggressive and that she would need to be sedated. The appointment was for October 6, at St Aidan’s Hospital. We were given medication, but her condition worsened.”

The couple decided to go to a private hospital. Following similar tests and examinations, it was revealed that Trinity did not have any issues with her kidneys, or a blockage, but instead had a normal UTI.

Storm said the doctor advised that Trinity finish the antibiotics. However, Trinity’s nausea and fever did not subside.

Storm took her to their family doctor on the Bluff and presented Trinity’s medical letters, as well as the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor at King Edward. “He begged me to stop giving her the medication. He said the antibiotics are not for children under the age of 18.”

Trinity is currently on different medication and is doing much better. Storm said this ordeal, however, triggered her autism to progress.

“If they can do this to her, how many other children are they putting through unnecessary tests, mistreating and misdiagnosing? I want to warn parents to be careful of what some doctors are doing to their children and consider getting a second opinion if they are unsure about something,” said the disappointed and frustrated mother of two.

She said she made numerous efforts to log a complaint with Kind Edward’s management before she resorted to sending an inquiry to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

KZN Department of Health responds

Spokesperson of the KZN Department of Health, Ntokozo Maphisa said, “The department is concerned by these allegations, and wishes to thank the SUN for bringing this matter to our attention. While we are prohibited by law from discussing confidential patients’ information, or the clinical management thereof, we can confirm that a formal complaint was received and processed and that the allegations are being looked into. Contact was subsequently made with the patient’s next-of-kin, and the patient was re-assessed by a clinician on Friday (October 15), and given a return date for further management.”