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GroundUp reports that the former manager of an operating theatre at Universitas Hospital has successfully sued Netcare for failing to protect her and take action against an abusive surgeon.
Tilana Alida Louw also sued Dr Stephen Paul Grobler but, following his sudden death in June 2022, entered into a confidential settlement agreement with the executor of his estate. She then pursued her case against Netcare Universitas Hospital. In a ruling this month, Bloemfontein High Court Judge Ilsa van Rhyn directed Netcare to pay Louw R300,000 for damages, past and future medical expenses, and to pay part of her costs on a punitive scale. Louw was appointed as theatre manager at the hospital in 2005. Her role was to oversee and manage operating theatres and theatre staff and monitor patient care. At that time, she was warned by the then hospital manager, and others, that Grobler had an “aggressive type personality”. She said she soon experienced firsthand his temper tantrums. In her claim, she said he had verbally abused her continually, hurling profanities, insults, using blasphemous language and obscenities at her in the presence of other operating theatre staff and even members of the public. According to Louw, she and other personnel were “not allowed” to lay complaints against Grobler because he was a “so-called money-spinner for Netcare”. She claimed Netcare had failed to come to her assistance, in spite of her numerous requests and complaints. Louw alleged that Netcare had failed in its legal duty to create a work environment free from verbal abuse and intimidation and to take reasonable care of her safety and protect her from psychological harm. As a result she was humiliated, degraded and suffered shock, anguish, fear and anxiety. She experienced post-traumatic stress syndrome. Netcare unsuccessfully defended the action. It denied that it had breached its duty to Louw and said it had taken action against Grobler.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page