Patient Left at Risk of Permanent Disability After Mediclinic Negligence & Dis-Chem/Kaelo Refusal to Authorise Surgery

Patient Left at Risk of Permanent Disability After Mediclinic Negligence & Dis-Chem/Kaelo Refusal to Authorise Surgery

Date: 13 September 2025

Somerset West, Western Cape – Pensioner Johan Martyn Oelofse has accused Medicross Vergelegen Emergency Centre and Kaelo/Dis-Chem Health of gross negligence, bad faith, and unfair billing practices after being denied urgent surgery for a severe rotator cuff tear confirmed by multiple medical reports.

On 4 August 2025, Mr. Oelofse attended Medicross Vergelegen ER with a swollen wrist/hand and incapacitated shoulder. Dr. R. van Gruting discharged him without proper imaging or treatment — no X-rays of the wrist, no immobilisation, and only pain medication. Despite repeated complaints, no urgent stabilisation was performed.

Subsequent reports from:

Dr. Tamara Stephens (ER Acting HOD) confirmed an urgent suspicion of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Dr. Chris du Plessis (Head of ER Vergelegen) confirmed the diagnosis and noted surgery had been scheduled.

Dr. Charl van den Berg (Orthopaedic Shoulder Specialist) warned that delays would cause tendon retraction, muscle atrophy, sleep disturbance, and permanent loss of function.

Despite this, Kaelo/Dis-Chem Health repeatedly reversed prior authorisations, downgraded the emergency to a “follow-up,” and left Oelofse trapped with thousands of rands in bills for ER, radiology, and pharmacy services.

Mr. Oelofse describes this as “entrapment into unauthorized services”: vague authorisation numbers are issued, patients undergo treatment in good faith, and the approvals are quietly revoked afterwards — leaving patients liable for unaffordable medical bills.

“Forty-five days after my injury, I am still untreated. My tendon is retracting daily, my pain is escalating, and I face permanent disability. The ER doctor was negligent, and the scheme is acting in bad faith. They are destroying lives while hiding behind authorisation numbers,” Oelofse said.

He has now issued a final joint demand to Medicross Vergelegen and Kaelo/Dis-Chem Health, holding them jointly and severally liable for:

Medical negligence and breach of duty of care.

Bad-faith repudiation of emergency claims.

Entrapment and unfair billing in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.

Mr. Oelofse is demanding:

Immediate authorisation for surgery.

Cancellation of all wrongful invoices.

Full disclosure of tariff codes and Rand-value coverage.

Written acknowledgement of liability and damages.

Failing this, he intends to file a High Court damages claim, citing Oppelt v Department of Health, Western Cape (2016) where delayed emergency care was found to breach constitutional rights.

For media enquiries, contact: Johan Martyn Oelofse Email: ***

Member: Dis-Chem Health Plus (Kaelo) – KH21361