Elderly patient given formalin to drink

A woman who went to a hospital for a knee operation and was allegedly given formalin instead of water to drink, is suing KZN’s MEC for health.

Durban - An 85-year-old Pietermaritzburg woman went to Grey’s Hospital six years ago for a knee operation and was allegedly given formalin - generally used in hospitals for preserving body parts or specimens - instead of water to drink after surgery.

Since then, Isabella Brink Beyers Smith can’t swallow with ease, survives on liquids and soft food, has a painful throat and suffers nosebleeds. Her case, where she is suing the MEC for Health for R425 000, came before the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week for trial because the MEC was denying the health department was liable.

The case did not proceed because of talks of a settlement and the matter was rolled over until today.

According to court papers drawn up by attorney Siva Chetty, Smith was admitted to Grey’s Hospital on May 5, 2010, for a knee replacement. She had surgery the next day and was wheeled into a recovery.

Smith felt thirsty and requested a drink of water. Her anaesthetist handed her a container. She said she took a big gulp and felt an excruciating burning pain in her nose, mouth, chest and stomach. She had been given formalin to drink instead of water, said the claim. She was then treated for formalin ingestion, toxicity and other complications.

According to court papers, before being admitted Smith had concluded a partly oral and written agreement with the hospital. When she was admitted for a knee replacement “the MEC’s servants” undertook to provide her with care and treatment reasonably necessary for such replacement.

The staff had also undertaken to care for her without negligence. In breach of their duty, they acted unlawfully and negligently, failing to label the container to clearly indicate that it contained formalin and was not for drinking or ingestion. They failed to warn her that the content was formalin and to counsel her about the cause of her pain and complications. They also did not arrange trauma counselling.

As a result, she had to endure excruciating pain and suffering, and still did; had to remain in hospital for six weeks more than she would otherwise have had to; and suffered severe vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. She was still not able to enjoy a normal diet and had to have further surgery.

Smith had suffered significant weight loss and had to undergo a gastroscopy. She had become, and still was, depressed.

She endured pain and suffering and would continue to do so.

Dr K Mohan, who consulted Smith in February, said in a medical report that she had walked into the examination room with the help of a walking aid. She limped.

The drinking of formalin had devastating effects to her oro-pharyngeal (middle part of the throat including the base of the tongue, tonsils, soft palate and walls of the pharynx), nasopharyngeal (upper part of the throat behind the nose) and the upper gastro-intestinal tracts.

The “accidental” serving of formalin instead of water by trained nursing staff should be considered irresponsible and indeed negligent, said the doctor.

The bleeding from her nose was most likely because of the damaged mucosa in the nasal cavities and post-nasal regions.

sharika.regchand@inl.co.za

The Mercury