Middelburg Hospital Refuse Toddler Treatment After He Drank Brake Fluid

After accidentally drinking brake fluid, a toddler was reportedly refused treatment at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital for more than six hours.

Paul Opperman, 22-month-old, drank brake fluid with his father in the garage just before 4 p.m.

Tracy-Lee Vorster, Paul’s mother, said she arrived home earlier than usual because she wasn’t feeling well and left him in the care of his father.

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“Toe hy vir ’n oomblik sy rug gedraai het, het Paul die vloeistof gedrink.” (He turned his back for a moment and Paul drank the liquid.)

It was unclear how much brake fluid Paul drank. Concerned about what it might do to him, his parents rushed him to the hospital.

Tracy explained that the nurse was rude and “unhelpful from the start” when they arrived at the casualty unit.

They also assumed Tracy drank the liquid and wanted to send her home with medication.

When Tracy finally persuaded them that it was her toddler who had drank the liquid, they told the family to wait because it was “standard practise” not to assist until a case with the police had been opened.

Tracy approached a doctor after waiting for two and a half hours, who said they’d need to take x-rays to see if his lungs were damaged.

However, the doctor informed Tracy that they would have to wait. Tracey took Paul to radiology a half-hour later, where she finally found a friendly face.

Tracy had to find the doctor herself after getting the X-rays to ask if Paul’s lungs had been damaged. She was curious if Paul could drink water; they had been waiting for more than six hours at that point.

Tracy stated that the doctor examined Pual’s X-rays and determined that there was no damage. Paul’s vitals “also looked right,” he said.

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According to Tracy, the doctor, who appeared to be very young, called a senior doctor, suggested Paul be admitted for observation.

Tracy was not permitted to stay with Paul during this time. It was already 9 p.m., and she “definitely didn’t want to leave him alone at the hospital,” she said.

Paul has since recovered completely, according to the Middelburg Observer.

Tracy had to find the doctor herself after getting the X-rays to ask if Paul’s lungs had been damaged. She was curious if Paul could drink water; they had been waiting for more than six hours at that point.

Tracy stated that the doctor examined Pual’s X-rays and determined that there was no damage. Paul’s vitals “also looked right,” he said.

According to Tracy, the doctor, who appeared to be very young, called a senior doctor  suggested Paul be admitted for observation.

Tracy was not permitted to stay with Paul during this time.

It was already 9 p.m., and she “definitely didn’t want to leave him alone at the hospital,” she said.

Paul has since recovered completely, according to the Middelburg Observer.