By: Natasha Archary

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has confirmed that a pregnant woman was found hanging in a hospital bathroom on Saturday morning, 09 September.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 12 September, the Department acknowledged that the unfortunate incident has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS), and an inquest docket has been opened.
According to the Department, the 7-months pregnant woman was admitted to the Kopanong District Hospital in Vereeniging, Sedibeng on Friday, 08 September.
Escorted by her mother, the patient was taken to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency unit after displaying “abnormal behaviour”, which cannot be disclosed due to patient-doctor confidentiality.
A doctor examined the heavily pregnant woman and diagnosed her, thereafter admitting the patient to the maternity ward.
The woman was prescribed sedation and restraints were applied.
Due to her condition, the woman was triggered by the crying babies, and was moved to a side ward.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, when nursing staff were doing their rounds, they noticed the patient was not on her bed.
She was found hanging in the bathroom with her head scarf.
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG HEALTH CONFIRMS A PATIENT SUICIDE CASE AT KOPANONG HOSPITAL pic.twitter.com/jVNvpJR6ZW
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) September 12, 2023
The Department will be concluding an internal investigation, independent of the SAPS investigation which is expected to take not more than 60-days.
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