Question NW1693 to the Minister of Health
22 October 2018 - NW1693
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Health
(a) What number of civil law suits involving cases of negligence is the North West department of health currently facing, (b) what is the reason for each civil suit involving medical negligence and (c) what is the value of each claim?
Reply:
a) The North Department of Health is currently facing 432 cases;
b) The reason for each civil suit involving medical negligence ranges from neonatal deaths, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, obstetrics and gynaecology, post caesarean section sepsis, orthopaedic and surgical, anaesthetics, patient falls, etc;
c) We do not know the actual value of the claims. The value can only be determined after each and every case has been settled either by a court of law or through mediation. What we do know is the contingent liability, i.e the total amount which litigants are claiming which is R682,779,881.00. Whether they will get it or still has to be determined.
END.