Moorosi Tsiane 

LESOTHO’s only psychiatric institution, Mohlomi Hospital, has been slapped with a M1 million lawsuit after its staff allegedly strangled a patient to death. 

Tšepo Ramone, from Ha Tikoe, Maseru, had?filed a court summons seeking the court to compel Mohlomi Hospital and the government to pay him M1 million in compensation for the death of his son, Mareka, who passed away at the psychiatric hospital on 11 April 2024. 

According to court papers filed by Mr Ramone on 11 September 2024, his son died due to professional negligence by the hospital’s staff. It is alleged that Mareka was locked in a ward without a proper search of his clothing, which could have prevented him from using any tools or items to harm himself. 

The Medical Superintendent of Mohlomi Hospital, the Ministry of Health’s Principal Secretary Moliehi Ntele, the Minister of Health Selibe Mochoboroane, and Attorney General Advocate Rapelang Motsieloa KC are first to third respondents respectively in the application. 

Mr Ramone states that he had left Mareka at Mohlomi, only to receive a phone call an hour later informing him that his son had allegedly hung himself using shoelaces and jacket laces. However, Mr Ramone disputes this, citing independent medical opinions suggesting that his son was strangled. 

“On the 11th of April 2024, the applicant’s son, Mareka Ramone, passed away at Mohlomi Mental Institution while supposedly under professional care. Unfortunately, due to the staff’s negligence, Mareka was locked in a ward without a thorough search of his body and clothes, leaving him unattended with items that could endanger his life,” Mr Ramone’s lawyers argued. 

“It is the first defendant staff’s disturbing allegations and a story told to the applicant (Ramone) after having been called back through a cell phone less than an hour having left his son in the expected able hands of the said staff that in that said period, the deceased was found to have hung himself with a shoe and jacket laces contrary to an independent scientific medical opinion that the deceased was strangled. 

“The applicant was further surprisingly told by the said staff that his late son has already been taken to a mortuary of the first respondent’s choice and that act was without the applicant’s consent/ permission as if his late son was?lelahleha?(a lost animal),” he said. 

He also mentioned that the hospital’s medical practitioner had opined that the primary cause of death was drug-induced asphyxiation, which led to his hanging. Mr Ramone argued that this further demonstrated the staff’s negligence, as the specific drug causing his son’s condition has not been disclosed. 

“This further demonstrates the negligence of the first respondent’s (Mohlomi) staff. To date, the suicide drug has not been disclosed to the victimised father of the deceased. The said respondent’s medical doctor’s opinion, on the other hand, seeks to protect the Mohlomi hospital staff’s misdeeds in that the Applicant’s son is claimed to have hung himself,” averred Mr Ramone. 

Mr Ramone holds the hospital staff and the government responsible for his son’s death and is demanding M1 million in compensation. Broken down,?he wants M250 000 for prospective financial support, M500 000 for the loss of companionship, M200 000 for pain and suffering, and M50 000 for medical and funeral expenses.