Pregnant patient allegedly commits suicide at Kopanong hospital

Share the Article:

A 25-year-old pregnant patient allegedly committed suicide while admitted at Kopanong district hospital in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg.

The Gauteng department of health confirmed the incident and said Refilwe Thamae who was twenty nine weeks pregnant was brought to the hospital’s accident and emergency unit on Friday by emergency medical services personnel escorted by her mother.

“Upon admission, the mother gave a background that the patient was displaying abnormal behaviour which the department cannot disclose due to patient-doctor confidentiality.

“The patient was then seen by a doctor who eventually diagnosed her. After diagnosis, she was then admitted at the maternity ward due to her being over seven months pregnant. 

“The doctor prescribed sedation and restraints which were applied. The patient was later nursed in a side ward due to her condition being triggered by crying babies,” departmental spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said.

According to Modiba, in the early hours of Saturday morning while the nursing staff were doing their rounds, they noticed that the patient was not on her bed.

ALSO READ | Special official funeral declared for late Prince Buthelezi

He continued; “Upon looking for her, they made the gruesome discovery and found the patient hanging in the bathroom with her head scarf”.

Modiba added that an internal investigation is underway.

The matter has been reported to the police. An inquest docket has been opened.