Swakop man sues for medical malpractice

WHAT started as a fever and stomach-ache resulted in an investigation by the Medical Board of Namibia (MBN) into the alleged unprofessional conduct of a Swakopmund-based surgeon.

The patient, Richard Milinga, has also lodged a civil claim against Dr Philipp Plarre, accusing the surgeon of providing lackadaisical medical treatment after surgery for the removal of an intra-abdominal abscess. His ordeal started on December 4 2006, Milinga told The Namibian.While on duty at a roadblock near Karibib, a rising fever and severe abdominal pain compelled him to visit a doctor in Usakos.The physician diagnosed Milinga with influenza and, supplied him with some antibiotics and painkillers.In a sworn affidavit to the Police, Milinga said he returned to the doctor the following day since his condition was deteriorating despite the medication.According to Milinga, the doctor’s reply was: “I am not a magician and there is no magic to make you better instantly”.Three days later, Milinga consulted a medical practitioner in Okahandja for a second opinion.This time, Milinga was diagnosed with constipation and given a prescription for laxatives.Upon the patient’s request, he was also given an injection to ease the pain, said Milinga.For the next two days the pain subsided somewhat and he continued his duties near Karibib, he said, but on Monday December 11 he was in agony again.The doctor in Okahandja suggested Milinga drive from Karibib to his consulting room.Upon arrival in Okahandja, he was informed to wait another two hours before he could see the doctor.”At that time I couldn’t stand on my two feet anymore because of the pain,” Milinga said, “and asked my colleagues to rush me to Windhoek MediClinic.”A few hours after he was admitted there, Milinga was on the operating table for the urgent removal of his severely inflamed appendix.Eight days after the surgery, he was released with instructions to urgently arrange a second operation to remove an intra-abdominal abscess that was discovered.”My condition became worse while at home in Swakopmund and I was admitted to the High Care Unit at the Cottage MediClinic on December 27.The second operation was performed the next day.”Besides injections for pain, he claimed to have received apathetic treatment from Dr Plarre despite complaints of nausea and increasing pain around the surgery wound, said Milinga.On January 4 2007, when he demanded that the doctor remove the bandages to inspect the cause of discomfort, it was found that the wound was infected, Milinga claimed.”The wound was still closed by means of clips and the pus was oozing out from the sides.I complained that the wound was poorly managed.An hour later the upper clips were removed, but the wound was not closed properly.”The next morning the remaining clips were removed.”That same day the doctor suggested I should be discharged from hospital since he found my condition stable, though this was entirely contrary to how I was.I objected, but was discharged nevertheless with an open wound.I believe I was discharged too soon, but the doctor couldn’t care much about my condition.Dr Plarre did not at any stage explain to me what was going on or what I should do when at home.Basically there was no communication from him; even on the day I was discharged he never spoke to me regarding the pain and condition of the wound.I was sent home while still in severe pain – weak and unable to help myself.”During the eight days after surgery, the doctor ignored my calls and only acted once I demanded to register a complaint with the hospital management.”Three days after being discharged, Milinga went to see his family physician, Dr Wotan Swiegers, who immediately administered a local anaesthetic and stitched up the wound as best he could to facilitate the healing process.Since then there has been a tremendous improvement, according to Milinga.All the stitches were removed a month later and he is currently recovering well, though still unfit for work.”Thank God for the few doctors like Dr Swiegers who shows compassion, sincerity, honesty, humility and care for his patients.He is not after money but after the welfare of his patients,” Milinga praised his physician.He also requested the MBN to investigate the conduct of the two doctors that he consulted in Usakos and Okahandja.Approached for comment, Dr Plarre confirmed that he is aware of the complaints lodged at the MBN, but said he was advised not to discuss the matter pending the investigation.According to Ena Barlow, Registrar of the Interim Medical and Dental Council of Namibia, all relevant reports and records are now being obtained, after which the matter will be referred to the preliminary investigation committee.His ordeal started on December 4 2006, Milinga told The Namibian.While on duty at a roadblock near Karibib, a rising fever and severe abdominal pain compelled him to visit a doctor in Usakos.The physician diagnosed Milinga with influenza and, supplied him with some antibiotics and painkillers.In a sworn affidavit to the Police, Milinga said he returned to the doctor the following day since his condition was deteriorating despite the medication.According to Milinga, the doctor’s reply was: “I am not a magician and there is no magic to make you better instantly”.Three days later, Milinga consulted a medical practitioner in Okahandja for a second opinion.This time, Milinga was diagnosed with constipation and given a prescription for laxatives.Upon the patient’s request, he was also given an injection to ease the pain, said Milinga.For the next two days the pain subsided somewhat and he continued his duties near Karibib, he said, but on Monday December 11 he was in agony again.The doctor in Okahandja suggested Milinga drive from Karibib to his consulting room.Upon arrival in Okahandja, he was informed to wait another two hours before he could see the doctor.”At that time I couldn’t stand on my two feet anymore because of the pain,” Milinga said, “and asked my colleagues to rush me to Windhoek MediClinic.”A few hours after he was admitted there, Milinga was on the operating table for the urgent removal of his severely inflamed appendix.Eight days after the surgery, he was released with instructions to urgently arrange a second operation to remove an intra-abdominal abscess that was discovered.”My condition became worse while at home in Swakopmund and I was admitted to the High Care Unit at the Cottage MediClinic on December 27.The second operation was performed the next day.”Besides injections for pain, he claimed to have received apathetic treatment from Dr Plarre despite complaints of nausea and increasing pain around the surgery wound, said Milinga.On January 4 2007, when he demanded that the doctor remove the bandages to inspect the cause of discomfort, it was found that the wound was infected, Milinga claimed.”The wound was still closed by means of clips and the pus was oozing out from the sides.I complained that the wound was poorly managed.An hour later the upper clips were removed, but the wound was not closed properly.”The next morning the remaining clips were removed.”That same day the doctor suggested I should be discharged from hospital since he found my condition stable, though this was entirely contrary to how I was.I objected, but was discharged nevertheless with an open wound.I believe I was discharged too soon, but the doctor couldn’t care much about my condition.Dr Plarre did not at any stage explain to me what was going on or what I should do when at home.Basically there was no communication from him; even on the day I was discharged he never spoke to me regarding the pain and condition of the wound.I was sent home while still in severe pain – weak and unable to help myself.”During the eight days after surgery, the doctor ignored my calls and only acted once I demanded to register a complaint with the hospital management.”Three days after being discharged, Milinga went to see his family physician, Dr Wotan Swiegers, who immediately administered a local anaesthetic and stitched up the wound as best he could to facilitate the healing process.Since then there has been a tremendous improvement, according to Milinga.All the stitches were removed a month later and he is currently recovering well, though still unfit for work.”Thank God for the few doctors like Dr Swiegers who shows compassion, sincerity, honesty, humility and care for his patients.He is not after money but after the welfare of his patients,” Milinga praised his physician.He also requested the MBN to investigate the conduct of the two doctors that he consulted in Usakos and Okahandja.Approached for comment, Dr Plarre confirmed that he is aware of the complaints lodged at the MBN, but said he was advised not to discuss the matter pending the investigation.According to Ena Barlow, Registrar of the Interim Medical and Dental Council of Namibia, all relevant reports and records are now being obtained, after which the matter will be referred to the preliminary investigation committee.