The Kopanong District Hospital has launched an internal investigation into the alleged suicide of a pregnant patient who was hospitalised at the institution.
The Gauteng Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed that the hospital will investigate the death of the woman.
The 25-year-old, who was seven months pregnant, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, September 9. She was found hanging in the bathrooms of the hospital on Sunday, a day before World Suicide Prevention Day.
It is reported that in the early hours of Saturday morning, nursing staff who were doing their rounds noticed that she was not in her bed. They found that she had hung herself with her head scarf.
The patient was brought to the hospital’s accident and emergency unit by emergency medical services personnel escorted by her mother.
“The mother gave background that the patient was displaying abnormal behaviour,” said the department.
The patient was diagnosed and admitted to the maternity ward, the department reported.
She was sedated and restrained after was believed to have been triggered by crying babies. She was therefore kept in a side ward.
The department said the death was immediately reported to the police and an inquest docket has been opened.
It further said that its quality assurance unit is also following up on the internal investigation because the case is regarded as a patient safety incident.
DA member and member of the Gauteng provincial legislature Jack Bloom said the party is calling for an inquiry into the suicide of the woman.
“I am horrified by the reported suicide of a pregnant woman at the Kopanong hospital in Vereeniging who was admitted for mental illness,” he said.
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