Nursing malpractice claims at private hospitals is on the rise
A study finds nursing in private hospitals is not better than in state ones, and ‘profits can’t be pursued at the expense of the patient’
A study of 122 nursing malpractice cases has raised red flags about the number of civil claims at private hospitals that are quietly settled in SA. Civil claims settlements due to nursing malpractice are a growing problem‚ according to professor Ethelwynn Stellenberg from Stellenbosch University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences. “The quality of care is declining‚ in both the state and private sectors‚” she warns. “The cost of clinical mistakes is just too high.” Stellenberg initially reached out to large healthcare organisations to acquire court documents for the study‚ but her requests were denied after they sought legal advice. She then turned to attorneys involved in malpractice claims. “Fortunately many of them saw the need for this research‚” she said. A total of 122 completed cases at private hospitals were studied‚ of which a fifth resulted in the death of patients. The study found that nursing malpractice in the private sector affected the quality of life of almost ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.