Update: 03 February, 4pm
Lenmed Hospital Group has broken its silence in the wake of alarming allegations involving a Stellenbosch radiologist, Dr Henning, accused of negligence that led to a patient’s death during a medical procedure at MooiMed Private Hospital in Potchefstroom, North West.
The incident, currently under scrutiny by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), raises serious questions about the standards of medical practice and the oversight of healthcare providers in the country.
The tragic events unfolded as the patient was being treated for pleural effusion—a condition characterised by the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural cavity. During a crucial procedure intended to insert a pleural drain to alleviate the patient’s symptoms, complications reportedly arose.
According to a nurse who was present, Dr Pieter Henning experienced difficulty in removing a guidewire from the drain, alleging that he applied excessive force. This action purportedly caused the guidewire to uncoil, further distressing the patient.
In a shocking revelation, the nurse alleged that Dr Henning improperly modified the pigtail drain by cutting off its safety tip—a crucial component designed to prevent internal injuries before reinserting it.
Following this alteration, the situation rapidly deteriorated, with fresh blood flowing from the drain and the patient going into cardiac arrest despite immediate emergency interventions and resuscitation attempts.
Describing the incident as highly traumatic, the nurse expressed her hesitance in reporting the matter due to fears of reprisal from hospital management. After nearly two years without an internal investigation, she felt compelled to bring her concerns to the attention of the HPCSA.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Lenmed Hospital Group, Michelle Naidoo, told Cape Town Etc that the organisation is bound by strict confidentiality and privacy regulations, preventing them from disclosing specific information about the case.
However, she emphasised that Lenmed has robust clinical governance, patient safety, and patient experience frameworks in place across its facilities, including structured incident reporting and investigation processes.
‘We can confirm that Lenmed has strict clinical governance, patient safety, and patient experience frameworks in place across all facilities,’ Naidoo asserted.
‘These include structured incident reporting, clinical review and investigation processes, escalation pathways, and oversight mechanisms to ensure that should any adverse events occur, they are managed appropriately and in accordance with regulatory and ethical requirements,’
Importantly, Naidoo clarified that the alleged incident took place prior to Lenmed’s acquisition of MooiMed Private Hospital, yet reiterated the group’s commitment to patient safety and clinical governance.
‘Lenmed takes all matters relating to patient safety and clinical governance seriously and is committed to ensuring that robust systems and controls are implemented and maintained,’ she said, adding that the organisation would fully cooperate with the HPCSA and other relevant authorities concerning the allegations.
Complaint lodged against Stellenbosch radiologist over patient’s death
Reports have emerged concerning a formal complaint lodged against, a well-known radiologist from Stellenbosch, claiming he is responsible for the death of a patient due to alleged negligence during a medical procedure.
According to Central News, the incident occurred at the MooiMed Private Hospital in Potchefstroom, North West, and has subsequently drawn the attention of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Dr Pieter Henning, the public face of Keystone Radiology, is no stranger to controversy, as he currently faces several professional and criminal matters.
The latest complaint alleges that the patient was undergoing treatment for pleural effusion, a medical condition where excess fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, thereby affecting breathing. The procedure involved inserting a pleural drain, a common intervention intended to alleviate the patient’s symptoms.
However, complications reportedly arose during the procedure, and it is reported that a nurse involved said Henning struggled to remove a guidewire from the pleural drain. The nurse’s account suggests that he pulled the guidewire with excessive force, causing it to uncoil — a detail she believes contributed to the patient’s distress.
In a shocking turn, it is alleged that Dr Henning cut off the safety tip of a pigtail drain, a crucial component designed to avert internal injuries, before reinserting it.
Following this procedure, the nurse claims that fresh blood began to flow from the drain. Despite emergency interventions and resuscitation efforts, the patient suffered cardiac arrest and tragically died shortly after.
The nurse described the entire incident as highly traumatic and revealed that she had hesitated to report it for nearly two years.
She claimed that hospital management had promised an internal investigation would occur, yet that process had never materialised, leaving her no choice but to raise the alarm with the HPCSA.
When Cape Town Etc contacted the HPCSA for comment, the Council confirmed that it had received a formal complaint regarding the matter involving Dr. Henning and is following standard processes in line with applicable regulations
Attempts to obtain further comments from the North West South African Police Service (SAPS) on the matter went unanswered on numerous occasions.
George Herald has since reported that Keystone Radiology acknowledged receipt of the allegations but have chosen not to comment further as legal and professional processes unfold, asserting that operations at both facilities continue as usual.
She also affirmed that Lenmed would cooperate fully with the HPCSA and relevant authorities concerning this case.
In addition to the medical negligence allegations, Henning is currently facing unrelated criminal charges.
He was arrested in November 2025 after allegedly discharging a firearm in a public space and causing property damage in Stellenbosch. Following his arrest, he was released on R1,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on 30 March 2026.
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