Mother sues KZN health MEC for millions over premature baby's blindness

Durban – A Durban mother of a permanently blind premature baby boy is claiming R23.9m from the KwaZulu-Natal health MEC, alleging that her son's blindness could have been avoided by staff of the RK Khan Hospital's premature birth unit.

Lauren Muller is the mother of Jayden, who was born in 2005.

But lawyers for the department have pointed out that the baby, who weighed 1.6kg at birth after a pregnancy of 30 to 32 weeks, had other conditions to treat in addition to blindness.

Muller alleges that the oxygen saturation level was administered routinely when it was no longer necessary.

She said her son suffered and would endure permanent emotional trauma, would function at a lower cognitive level, and his posture and movement patterns associated with neuro-muscular functions as a result of complications would be affected.

The matter was adjourned to November 28.