A Mangaung G4S inmate has accused the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) of medical negligence after developing breasts as a result of an alleged sudden change in his prescription medicine.
The prisoner, who identified himself as Ndantabuzo Cotsho, said this has resulted in his identity as a man being challenged. He wants the DCS to pay him R20 million in medical negligence after he claimed that health officials switched his medication, resulting in him growing breasts.
He said his ordeal started in 2015 after being admitted to the medical facility in the Northern Cape, where health officials started injecting him with a different dose of medication at the time.
The Star has seen some of his medical records and his bare-breasted picture, where his breasts seem to have taken shape.
“I am a prisoner in the facility of the Mangaung G4S Correctional Centre. My name is Ntandabuzo Cotsho. I am hereby writing this letter with the pain G4S caused me. G4S has changed the way I look. I don’t look like a man any more. I now look like a woman. I have developed and grown breasts and my private parts don’t work any more. G4S given me wrong medication that started affecting me where the pills started changing my looks and my body. This has really affected me emotionally and physically,” he said.
Cotsho said he started on the new medication in 2015, when the wrong medication was supplied to him.
“They started giving me the wrong medication on May 26, 2015 till now. Then they started injecting me with an injection that I don’t even know and now it has added more changes to me. It has damaged my brain, hands and my hearing. This has made me like a zombie. They have taken me to the outside hospital where the doctor prescribed medication for me, which I am not given.
“I even have a heart problem. Now I am using a chronic medication. I want the G4S company to pay me for the damage they (have caused) me,” he added.
The inmate claimed his pleas for better care and attention had fallen on deaf ears.
“When I came here (the Mangaung Correctional Centre), my problems started, and when I try to speak to them they ignore me. I want G4S to pay me R20m. If they can’t pay, they must please give me my body back.
“This company is built on lies because everything you say they squash it. So I would kindly appreciate any help I can receive that can help me about this case to receive the help I need. You can forward this matter to others who can help,” he said.
DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the department was not aware of Cotsho’s medical condition.
“Offender Ntandabuzo Cotsho is incarcerated at Mangaung Correctional Centre, operated by contractor. Unfortunately, the Department of Correctional Services was not aware of this case as it would been referred accordingly, considering that inmates that suffer adverse conditions are referred for specialised treatment,” he said.
On the medical condition suffered by the inmate, Nxumalo promised to intervene and investigate the root cause of Cotsho’s situation.
“The department is to investigate why it was not informed as the offender confirmed when asked if he did file a complaint with a local hospital operated by the contractor.
“An investigation will assist to bring more details to the fore and guide on the way forward. Critical at this stage is for the offender to be afforded necessary care,” he added.
Speaking to The Star on Wednesday, plastic and reconstructive surgery practitioner Dr Brian Monaisa, of the Netcare Pinehaven Hospital, revealed that the condition called gynecomastia is responsible for some incidents of men growing female-like breasts in infancy, puberty and old age. However, he said the condition was easy to treat and sometimes stopped on its own.
On rare occasions, medication could cause this condition to happen in men of all ages, he said.
“This condition called gynecomastia happens naturally in males three times in their lives. That would be during birth, puberty and old age. When it happens this way, it should go down on its own naturally, or it can be treated.
“However, this condition can also happen because of medication. Even when it happens due to medication, it is not prevalent as it happens to one in 1 000 or 10 000 patients. When medication is (the cause), that medication is easily noticeable and changes are made accordingly.
“There is a long list of medications that can cause (gynecomastia) to happen. My belief is that no doctor would prescribe medication to patient knowing the side effects of this condition. However, the main point is that there is a long list of medications that would cause a limited number of patients to have the condition,” Monaisa said.
The Star