Sheriff has bitter pill

The sheriff of the court has attached the assets of the Gauteng health department after it ignored an April court order to pay R750000 to medical negligence victim Queen Mpinga.

The sheriff visited the department's head office on Sauer Street, Johannesburg, on June 13 and catalogued 400 computers, 600 desks and 800 chairs which it plans to seize on July 13 if the department fails to pay Mpinga.

Health department spokesman Chris Maxon said the payment was being processed.

Last year, the Johannesburg High Court found the health department guilty of negligence in the case of Mpinga.

Mpinga's leg was amputated after she developed gangrene following poor management of her wound at the Natalspruit and Pholosong hospitals on the East Rand in 2006.

In April, the court ordered the interim payment of R750000 to Mpinga, but a final amount will be decided on October 15.

Mpinga's lawyer, Gary Austin. said he was expecting to win as much as R7-million in October even though he was initially suing the department for about R2.9-million.

"The case is really strong."

Austin said medical records show nurses at both hospitals had discharged Mpinga instead of referring her to a doctor.

Austin is suing the department in eight other cases for an estimated R102-million.

DA health spokesman Jack Bloom said: "The department has not won a medical negligence case in three years."

Maxon said: "The department views these cases very seriously and is already implementing measures to ensure these are prevented before they happen as part of the overall quality improvements that are under way."