By Standard on Saturday Reporter

Her family cries foul, but doctors say they acted to save her life. The patient, Katongu Wambua, 36, is too traumatised to speak. She lies helplessly on the bed.

Such is the blame-game over the amputation of Katongu’s legs, an arm, and three fingers last month at the Coast General Hospital.

Katongu is said to have left home on her feet, but after several blood tests she was rushed to the theatre for an emergency operation, which relatives claim was unprocedural.

The hospital administrator Helton Maghanga says the family gave consent, but Katongu’s relatives claim they were told only a leg would be severed.

Katongu at the Coast General Hospital, on Friday. Photo: maarufu mohamed/standard.

Dr Maurice Simiyu, the Provincial Director of Medical Services, says the woman was diagnosed with vasculatis, a condition that is characterised by the destruction of blood vessels leading to death of tissues.

"We did not cut off her four limbs for any other reason other than to save her life. If we had not carried out the surgery, the patient would not be with us today. The decision was made to save her life," he said, at a press conference, on Friday.

To compound the family’s problems, Katongu has been detained at the hospital for failure to clear medical bills.

On Friday, Simiyu blamed the media for reporting negative stories about the hospital, and in essence turning the public against the institution and its staff.

The story was first aired on Thursday on our sister TV station, KTN, and the family accused the hospital of negligence.

A nurse, Joseph Kenga, said it was unfortunate the public did not appreciate their services despite working around the clock to save lives.

The hospital came under criticism last year over the botched amputation of the legs of the two-year-old girl whose feet had developed gangrene.

A second and timely opinion saw only the toes amputated.

The woman’s family want the Ministry of Medical Services to investigate the case.