6 days ago
Grieving family's agony deepens as hospital orders body returned mid funeral
Poonsamy "Dino" Naicker
Image: Supplied
A CHATSWORTH family was dealt a double blow this week when they had to not only deal with the death of a loved one, but was ordered to return the body while the funeral was underway.
Poonsamy (Dino) Naicker, 53, died at St Augustine's Hospital in Durban on Monday and his funeral service was held on Wednesday at the Woodhurst Mulitcultural Hall in Chatsworth.
His family, while in the midst of paying their final respects, were requested to send his body back to the hospital for a post-mortem to be undertaken.
Naicker's brother, Gringo said they were astounded by the request. He said the family were called to the hospital on Monday and were told that his brother needed to be on a ventilator.
"Not long after arriving at the hospital my brother was pronounced dead. We were informed he had passed away of natural causes. While the funeral was taking place we received a call from the hospital," said Naicker.
He said the request to return the body for a post-mortem after the funeral arrangements were made and in progress caused the family additional distress, trauma, and emotional pain.
"A day before the funeral, a nursing sister informed us that two doctors had signed off on the cause of death as natural, but a third doctor contested it, claiming it was unnatural. I asked what we needed to do and was told we need to ask the doctor why he believed it was unnatural.
"On the day of the funeral after we performed the Hindu rituals at home, we proceeded to the hall. During the proceedings the same ward sister called to say they cannot issue the death certificate due to discrepancies in the cause of death and that the body must be sent back," he said.
Naicker said he and other family members went to the hospital with the body and waited outside the mortuary.
"We expected the hospital management to meet with us, but no one came. Despite the family's attempts to speak with the hospital manager, he did not communicate with the family. We also went to the doctor who claimed it was unnatural, but he only upset us.
"The autopsy was finally done yesterday and the body was released to the family for cremation," he said.
Naicker said his brother had been in hospital for about seven weeks.
"Initially he had a wound on his foot which was operated on. He had thereafter been under wound care. He returned to work but took ill again and was admitted to hospital. It was suspected that he had sepsis. While in hospital an artery in his eye burst and he lost sight in his one eye.
"He was not happy in hospital, but we wanted him healthy and well before he came home. We were told last week that he needed to have an endoscopy and CT scan before being discharged. But he developed a hospital infection and was moved to the intensive care unit," said Naicker.
He said the infection got worse and his brother needed assisted oxygen.
"We didn't expect this to happen. When he passed away and we were told it was natural causes, I was grieving but understood. But to go through this ordeal has been traumatising for everyone," he said.
Naicker said their 80-year-old mother, and his brother's wife and two children were devastated.
"The hospital's actions may have constituted misconduct and a breach of hospital protocols, specifically regarding the release of the body without proper procedures, namely the initial release to the funeral home without indicating a need for a postmortem.
"The family was not adequately informed or consulted about the need for a postmortem before releasing the body. The unexpected request to return the body has been devastating.
"The hospital's handling of the situation has left the family feeling disrespected. We expect a full Investigation into the circumstances that led to the request for a postmortem after funeral arrangements had been finalised. My brother had such a terrible time in hospital and now he can't even go out in dignity. He was an awesome person and he didn't deserve this," said Naicker.
