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George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
Masvingo Provincial Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Noel Zulu is facing culpable homicide charges after allegedly leaving a 30x30cm gauze in a patient’s abdomen during a surgical operation in 2015.
The patient, Gladys Sibanda, died eight years later after complaining of chest pains and abdominal swelling.
Dr Zulu (45), who is Masvingo province’s only surgeon, allegedly left a surgical gauze in the abdomen of the late Sibanda of Matowa village in Zimuto communal lands, following a surgical procedure, which the state believes caused her death in July last year.
A surgical gauze or abdominal swab is a piece of cloth used to absorb blood and fluids during a surgical operation. The Masvingo Hospital Medical Superintendent has since appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mr Bishard Chineka facing a culpable homicide charge. Dr Zulu, who is represented by Mr Oliver Marwa of Tabana and Marwa is denying the charges. The State, led by Mr Mike Tembo, alleges that sometime in 2015 Sibanda fell ill and sought Dr Zulu’s services after advice from nursing staff at Masvingo General Hospital.
Dr Zulu allegedly recommended that Sibanda undergo a computed tomography scan and it was done in Harare and the doctor was given the results.
Acting on the results of the CT scan, Dr Zulu recommended a surgical procedure after noticing that Sibanda’s liver was swollen. On another date in October 2015, she was admitted to Masvingo Provincial Hospital and the Dr Zulu performed the operation.
The state further alleges that some days after the surgical procedure, Sibanda started feeling pain in her chest and had a swelling abdomen.
Sibanda allegedly went to Dr Zulu for review and the he recommended another surgical procedure for a fee that Sibanda was unable to raise.
Sibanda’s condition allegedly persisted until 15 July last year when she collapsed and was pronounced dead at St Antony Musiso Mission Hospital in Zaka and her remains were taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for a post-mortem.
Masvingo doctor Dr Godfrey Zimbwa conducted the post-mortem on Sibanda’s remains and made several observations. Among the observations by Dr Zimbwa was a grossly distended abdomen and an abdominal swab with pus.
The state alleges that the cause of Sibanda’s death was the retained abdominal swab which was found lodged in her abdomen and that the situation was caused by Dr Zulu’s negligence.
According to the state Dr Zulu failed to exercise the skill and duty of care required of a medical practitioner, specifically a surgeon.
The state will produce images taken at the post-mortem procedure showing the retained surgical gauze in the now deceased’s abdomen.
Online Reporter