Dr Richard Lebethe also testified that some of the NGOs to which Life Esidimeni patients were being transferred were unsuitable for the patients.
Dr Richard Lebethe, deputy director-general at the Gauteng Department of Health , on Thursday testified at the Life Esidimeni inquest into the deaths of 144 mental health patients that a number of the patients had died from strokes and others of natural causes after being transferred to NGOs from Life Esidimeni.
Luyt told the inquest that one of the 144 patients who died was Samson Nhlapu, with the cause of death from the autopsy being reported as a “haemorrhagic induction”. He asked Lebethe what this meant.Luyt asked Lebethe why he specifically asked for this patient to be autopsied if it was clear that he died from natural causes.
He testified that he had visited some of the NGOs to which Life Esidimeni patients were being transferred and found some unsuitable for patients – for instance, some were in mountainous areas and some had lots of steps, which would create difficulties for patients.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Movement of Life Esidimeni patients was a rush job, inquest toldDr Makgabo Manamela was told that the moving of patients from Life Esidimeni care facilities to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was being rushed, and that there were not enough suitable facilities to place patients in. AnElectricLady
Read more »
Get the jab, pleads life insurer as it reveals extent of Covid-19 death claimsMomentum Metropolitan's life insurance businesses paid R10.7bn in death claims during the year, compared to an average of R5.6bn per year over the three years preceding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more »
14 children await gift of life at Johannesburg hospital as MEC appeals for organ donorsGauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, on Wednesday disclosed that there are 182 patients awaiting organ transplants at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
Read more »
Investigation into 'midair collision' that claimed life of parachutistA parachutist was killed and another injured when they collided in midair at Delmas, Mpumalanga.
Read more »
Looters remorseful as daily life gets tougherSome residents in areas affected by the July riots have lost their livelihoods, have to travel far to get to the jobs that remain and walk long distances to unaffected shopping centres.
Read more »
14 children await gift of life at Johannesburg hospital as MEC appeals for organ donorsGauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, on Wednesday disclosed that there are 182 patients awaiting organ transplants at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
Read more »