Specialist facing R10m claim
A Pretoria specialist anaesthesiologist is facing two damages claims relating to a surgical procedure to sever nerve roots in the spinal cord to relieve patients of their severe headaches, but which allegedly left them with nerve damage, says a Pretoria News report. Dr Russel Raath, who practises in the Jacaranda Hospital, is facing a nearly R10m claim in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria).
Salome Janse van Rensburg (40) is claiming R5.1m, while the other patient, Alida van der Merwe (53), is claiming R4.6m. Both allege they are now partially disabled due to the ‘negligence of the specialist to perform the procedure properly’. But Raath was adamant that he was professional in his conduct and performed the procedures with due skill and diligence.
He denied that the after-effects they claimed were due to his conduct. The report says this is not the first time that Raath has been taken to task. Karen Pietersen (54) of Arcadia, in April claimed R5m in damages from the specialist. The claim was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
