Court reduces damages in cerebral palsy claim

Zelda Venter

THE Pietermaritzburg High Court is likely to save the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) health department millions of rands after a judge earlier awarded the mother of a child more than R28.8 million in damages, but three judges on appeal found this amount to be overly generous. The KZN health department turned to court to appeal the amount of damages it was ordered to pay after the child—who was nine when the application started—was left with cerebral palsy due to the negligence of the doctors at the State hospital where she was born. The mother sued the health department for damages and the latter accepted liability. The mother’s claim followed her accusations that the doctors were negligent in treating her during the final phase of her labour and during the birthing process. The…

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Star South Africa (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2025-03-11

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