A first-time time mother who was healthy when she went to a state hospital to deliver her baby – but came out of a caesarean section minus her uterus – has sued the Gauteng Health MEC for damages.

The Mercury reports the woman told the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) that she was admitted to the George Mukhari Academic Hospital in 2016 to give birth.

As she started bleeding while having a caesarean section, her uterus was removed.

The mother said she entered the hospital as a healthy woman and had no idea what led to her uterus being removed.

She was never told about this prior to the operation, nor did the hospital offer her any counselling afterwards, she said.

She blamed the medical staff for being negligent, but the doctors told the court it was a life threatening situation and they had no other option than to perform the emergency operation.

As for counselling, the court was told that as the patient had discharged herself, they did not get around to counselling her.

In finding the hospital negligent, the court said the hospital falls within the category of having properly trained doctors and nurses, medical equipment and a 24-hour theatre to conduct procedures.

It is also a training hospital and the decision to perform a caesarean, until the procedure is performed, should not take more than an hour.

But in this case, it was delayed for 10 hours.

The report notes the MEC was held liable for 100% of the damages the mother could prove she had suffered.

Full report in The Mercury