7 month old baby with diarrhea not treated at the diarrhea study clinic

Hello Peter

I am stunned and angered by the treatment I received at the RHI Shandukani Research Clinic yesterday. I feel s though I signed a contract with the devil. I voluntarily participated my baby with this research for diarrhea, at the time my daughter was 6 weeks old. Yesterday I called the clinic reporting that my baby had diarrhea since Friday and i was called to come in to the clinic. Upon my arrival my daughter was taken tests for BP and weight as usual for every visit. The problem started when I had to see the doctor. I was called in tho the doctor's rooms, the doctor started questioning me about the diarrhea and i was giving her answers. She called in another lady doctor. the first question this doctor asked me was" How do I want the baby's stoop to be?" I was puzzled by this question as I was carrying four nappies with stools my baby had made only yesterday. The clinic would advise that you bring in the stools if the baby has diarrhea so they can take samples to test at the lab. I then started showing the doctor the each of the nappies, and in each one she saw she was telling me that this is not diarrhea. I explained that my baby does not make four liquidy stoops per day and that this was not normal for her which is why i called the clinic. After some delegation between the two doctors they decided that they need to do a urine UIT test on her. This they explained as a urine test that involves a catheter inserted in the baby 's virgina to bring out urine. I was scared for the baby to take this test and I asked her if there is not another way. She told that there is a bag they can use but it will take longer because i will have to hold the bag until the baby urines. I agreed and opted for this method. I was told to wait for the bag. As I was still waiting a lady by the name if Tsidi, one of their employees, called me in on one of the rooms. Now Im thinking that the bag has arrived instead Tsidi tells me that the doctor says that i am refusing for the baby to take the test. I told her no, I am waiting for the bag and I am scared for the baby to take the catheter test as I myself am afraid of it to be used on me. She tried to convince me by saying that it will be quick and painless but i kindly told her that i will opt for the bag please. They did not tell me that there were no bags available. She told me to sit and wait and she came back with another lady, now she was telling m that the doctor says she is reffering me to the Hospital because I refuse to take the test. I told her that I ma not refusing, I am waiting for the bag. She insisted that they will write me a letter and refer me to the hospital and I should wait for the letter. When the letter arrives and I read it, it read, I quote " Mother is refusing to take a UIT test for the baby". I called Tsidi and questioned her about this statement because I did not refuse and I know the trouble the doctor's and nurses would give me at the hospital if they read that statement. She told me that she was not the one who wrote it. She said I must question the doctor. I waited for what is up to 45 minutes for the doctor but no one came. I realized that i was being ignored because I was the only one left at the clinic and I knew the doctors were not busy so I stood up and left. I am very saddened by this treatment because I have been loyal to this study and never missed any scheduled visits, my daughter has been drawn blood so many times and even in her neck at once. They have been injecting her with their vaccines for the research and we were left with one visit. Now that my baby is having a diarrhea she cannot be given any help. Now that they got what they wanted and are done with my baby they dont care. How painful and sad to use innocent babies in a way like this. I wonder if Dr Lee Fairlie is aware of this treatment at the clinic as she is the investigator of this research.