"The reason I am doing this is not because they did not want me to get a second opinion, but because they diagnosed and treated me for the wrong ailment. This could potentially cause the death of another, more seriously ill person and I would like to prevent that if I can."

These are the words of Mrs Alet Otto, who was treated for an ulcer in the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital while she was actually suffering from gall stones.

Mrs Otto was admitted to the hospital on Monday, January 14 with severe intestinal pain at around 02:15. After examining her, the doctor on call started treating her for an ulcer. The treatment did not work and Mrs Otto started vomiting gall on Tuesday morning. She alleges that she had not received any pain medication up to that point, although blood was drawn for some tests and X-rays were taken of her abdomen.

She was then informed on Wednesday at around 09:00 that she would be transferred to either Tshilidzini or Polokwane Provincial Hospital for further treatment. She subsequently called her children to bring her more clothes, as she did not have sufficient clothing for the transfer. After waiting for about two hours, they approached the staff to determine when the transfer would take place and where to. She was informed that she would no longer be transferred. At the time, she was still experiencing severe pain, despite the administering of pethidine intravenously.

At this stage Mrs Otto asked for a second opinion. "The first name that came into my head was that of Dr Lourens, one of the resident doctors there. I asked if I could see him."

The doctor treating her allegedly found this unacceptable and shouted at her that he was refusing to treat her any further. Mrs Otto then asked her children to track down Dr Thembo, who is the acting superintendent, or any other doctor who was available. Dr Thembo asked her to return to her bed, so that he could attend to her personally. He looked at the X-rays and wanted the results of the blood tests, which had not come back yet. At this point, he allegedly told her that he could find nothing wrong with her. He gave her an hour to decide whether or not she wanted another doctor to treat her or to be released from the hospital. She chose to leave the hospital.

On Wednesday, January 16 she went to Elim Hospital at around 16:30. She was admitted and at around 18:00 she was subjected to a sonar examination by the doctor on call. This doctor determined that the problem was four gall stones which would have to be removed. To be safe, she called another doctor for a second opinion and a recommendation. They concurred in their opinion of the problem and started treating her.

Mrs Otto stayed in Elim Hospital until January 24 and, according to her, received excellent treatment and service. She is due to return there shortly to have the offending gall stones removed. She is full of praise for the way she was treated by the staff and the general good condition and cleanliness of the hospital.

(By the time of going to press no comment could be obtained from the provincial spokesperson of the Department of Health, Mr Seloba, as to the treatment Mrs Otto received in the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital. This was despite several faxed information requests to his office).