…as patient alleges he went seven days without medical attention after stomach operation
Moorosi Tsiane
MAFETENG Hospital is facing a M2 million lawsuit over alleged medical negligence after a Ha Ramokhele man claimed a botched operation left faecal matter leaking from his intestines into his body.
Teboho Rammusi alleges that he went seven consecutive days without medical attention following surgery for a stab wound to his stomach in December 2024, before being transferred to Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), now known as Tšepong Hospital, and later hospitalised in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
In court papers filed in the High Court, Mr Rammusi accuses Mafeteng Hospital of failing to provide adequate medical care and ensure that suitably qualified medical practitioners were available to attend to him.
He has cited the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Matšoanelo Monyobi; the Minister of Health, Mamokete Ntšekhe; the Medical Superintendent of Mafeteng Hospital; and the Attorney General, Advocate Rapelang Motsieloa, as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.
According to his court papers, Mr Rammusi was admitted to Mafeteng Hospital on 27 December 2024 after sustaining a stab wound to his stomach.
He alleges that he entered into an oral agreement with the hospital’s medical superintendent, who undertook to perform surgery with the professional skill and care reasonably expected of a medical practitioner.
However, Mr Rammusi claims the hospital failed to meet the required standard of care. He accuses the medical superintendent of failing to ensure that suitably qualified and experienced medical practitioners were available to examine and manage his condition.
“He failed to ensure that at least one medical practitioner was in attendance at the hospital at all material times relevant hereto,” Mr Rammusi states in his court papers.
He further alleges that the hospital failed to take reasonable steps to ensure he received a proper and timely assessment, as well as appropriate medical attention.
Mr Rammusi claims the consequences of the alleged negligence became increasingly serious during his hospitalisation, alleging that he went seven consecutive days without being attended to.
“During his stay at Mafeteng Hospital, he had tubes on his body which showed faeces were coming out from the tubes on his body,” the court papers state.
The situation allegedly prompted his transfer to Tšepong Hospital on 2 January 2025, where doctors reportedly discovered that faecal matter had spilled into his abdominal cavity through his punctured intestines.
He was subsequently transferred to Bloemfontein, South Africa, where he was also hospitalised.
Mr Rammusi claims the alleged failure to provide appropriate medical care resulted in additional medical expenses, a severe lung infection, pain and suffering.
He argues that the government, through the respondents, is liable for the alleged negligence because Mafeteng Hospital is owned and operated by the state and its officers were acting in the course and scope of their employment.
He further states that the hospital’s medical superintendent is a medical practitioner and its chief accounting officer, and holds the respondents vicariously liable for the damages he claims to have suffered.
Mr Rammusi also alleges that a letter of demand was served on the respondents in accordance with the law, but that they had not responded by the time the court application was filed.
He is seeking M2 million in damages, together with interest at 12.5 percent per annum, legal costs and any further relief the court may deem appropriate.