A grieving mother, Cicilia, is accusing Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg of negligence, claiming that a series of errors and seemingly indifferent staff denied her dying son, Nicholas Johannes van Burick, his final wish to see her. Van Burick passed away alone in the hospital on Saturday, leaving his mother with a profound sense of loss and anger.
Cicilia, who had been searching for her son since July, only discovered his death through broadcaster Tom London, who had filmed a series of videos exposing alleged callous behaviour by hospital staff. London's videos, which went viral over the weekend, show doctors discussing bonuses, cars and restaurant visits while patients suffer around them.
"All he kept asking Tom was for him to call his mother. All he wanted was to be with his mother. I couldn't even be there for him and be by his bedside in his dying moments. I had to find out the hard way after already losing a daughter and my husband as well. It broke me. How much more must a woman go through?" Cicilia said.
London, who had been documenting the conditions at Helen Joseph, confirmed that Van Burick had repeatedly asked for his mother. "Before he died, hospital staff asked him who they should call, and he responded: 'My mom, please call my mom,'" London recounted.
"But the doctors didn't seem to have a number for his mom. I did see them make a call to a number that was on his file, but the person who answered said they didn't know him."
