Cape Town – The Gauteng Health Department’s investigation into the death of 32-year-old Miriam Singh, who passed away at Westbury Clinic before delivering her first child, revealed she had a serious underlying condition.
The department confirmed healthcare workers followed correct protocols, as verified by experts from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“The Department has received the outcome of the internal investigation which was also subjected to expert review by leading specialists in obstetrics/gynaecology and surgery from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital,” Gauteng Health Department Motalalate Modiba said.
“The internal report found that the correct protocols were followed by the healthcare workers in attendance. The postmortem report has revealed that the patient had a serious underlying condition which contributed to the deterioration of their condition within a short space of time after presenting at our health facility.
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG HEALTH GOVES AN UPDATE FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PASSING OF EXPECTANT MOTHER WESTBURY CLINIC pic.twitter.com/JvMPf3ysVn
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) January 2, 2025
“Given the doctor-patient confidentiality, the department is unable to expatiate further the actual medical condition of the patient. However, this has been shared with the family concerned.”
While the community accused the clinic of negligence, the department dismissed these claims as baseless and expressed disappointment over misinformation that added to the family’s grief.
“The department has noted with disappointment the malicious allegations prematurely made on public platforms by various interested parties which were not based on any clinical fact but hearsay.
“This is not only irresponsible behaviour. It is also unethical and unfortunately compounds the pain experienced by the grieving family as they now have to contend with misinformation about the condition of their loved one, which can make it even harder to accept clinical facts,” Modiba
The department extended condolences to the Singh family and continues to offer them counseling.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
