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Mpumelelo Nyoni Court Reporter
AN INQUEST has ruled out negligence in the death of a woman who died hours after giving birth at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo saying it was due to “systematic failure” as a result of lack of resources at the institution.In his finding, Regional Magistrate Chrispen Mberewere pointed out that there was no evidence singling out any individual for Samantha Shingirayi’s death.
Shingirayi was admitted on March 14, 2012 at 9AM while bleeding from the womb and a midwife indicated that her condition required urgent attention.
She was, however, only operated on nearly seven hours later, but subsequently died due to excessive loss of blood as there was only one theatre available.
“All in all we are unable to find that any one person was responsible, either intentionally or negligently, for the death of Shingirayi. She was the victim of systematic failure and not human error.
“These are our findings and it is recommended that the matter be closed as such,” said the Mberewere.
The magistrate said conditions at Mpilo Central Hospital, which could be a national problem in the health sector, did not offer a conducive environment for adequate procedures.
“The cause of delay was due to the system of election in the prioritising of emergencies which is done upon admission. The system itself is a result of deficiencies at Mpilo and possibly in the national health delivery system as a whole where facilities for more theatres are available but not able to be used either because the machinery is malfunctioning or dysfunctional or the conditions are unsuitable,” said Mberewere.
The magistrate accepted testimony submitted by Dr Patson Maphosa, a senior doctor at the hospital, that hospital staff took too long to raise the alarm to a senior doctor but attributed this to “misleading parameters”.
In his testimony, Dr Maphosa said Shingirayi’s death could’ve been avoided had proper medical standards been observed.
He acknowledged that she was supposed to be pressed forward but pointed out that although the staff was inexperienced, Shingirai’s situation could have misled even senior doctors.
derick.khumalo