Before you contact the offices of Hasa learn more about the private healthcare sector in South Africa.
Q: I am concerned at the practice of some anaesthetists, who transfer still intubated patients to the recovery room where they are left with the nursing staff to be extubated, while the anaesthetists return to theatre to anaesthetize the next patient. Who
Answer:
The South African Society of Anaesthetists provides the following six guidelines regarding the responsibilities of anaesthetists towards intubated patients in the recovery room:
- The responsibility of the maintenance of a safe airway up to the point of full recovery rests with the anaesthesiologist.
- As a general rule standards of quality care demand that the anaesthesiologist responsible for an intubation should personally extubate the patient.
- There are circumstances where a patient can be held in the recovery area while still intubated.
- The anaesthesiologist should not leave the institution while the patient is intubated unless a competent colleague or an intensive care unit has assumed responsibility for the airway.
- The anaesthesiologist should not commit to other duties (including another anaesthetic) when the patient requires an endotracheal tube for the maintenance of a safe airway in the recovery period - unless a suitably qualified person is immediately available to deal with any complications relating to the airway.
- Recovery room nursing staff are entitled to refuse to accept responsibility for the care of a patient if they are inadequately trained or experienced in the management of complications relating to an endotracheal tube.
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Q: I underwent major surgery at a private hospital and as a result have suffered many complications as a result of, in my opinion, the action of my doctor. What can I do about this situation?
Answer:
Doctors working at private hospitals are in private practise and are
not employed by the hospital. Although private hospitals want the best
surgeons possible working at their hospitals, they cannot be held
responsible for the actions the doctors. Doctors in private practise
are legally and professionally responsible for their own actions. If
you believe that the doctor acted negligently or unethically, you can
ask the Registrar of the Health Professional Council to investigate the
action of the doctor. You could also contact a lawyer to determine
whether you could bring a civil action against the doctor.
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Q: I was recently admitted to a private hospital. Although I am on a medical scheme, my hospital bill was not settled in full and I had to pay in an amount of R82,00. Is this hospital entitled to this money?
Answer:
Although most private hospitals charge according to medical aid rates,
it may be that your medical scheme does not agree to pay for certain
items. The hospital will be acting within its legal rights to bill the
balance owing directly to you. The contract for the payment of the
hospital bill exists between you and the hospital, not between the
hospital and the medical scheme. Because most hospital bills are
settled in full by the respective medical schemes, most patients never
become involved in the settlement of the bill.
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