The Pain Collective – Review of Medical Negligence

The Pain Collective – Review of Medical Negligence

My father nearly lost his life after developing a severe spinal infection, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, following a diagnostic nerve block procedure performed at this facility by Dr Karriem.

We believe the infection was introduced during the procedure, as it was later identified at the lumbar injection site and his left knee — both sites of previous injections.

Despite my repeated calls and messages to report his rapidly deteriorating condition, our concerns were dismissed and attributed to arthritis. As his pain became unbearable and he could no longer walk, we were unable to reach Dr Karriem and had to take him to the emergency room ourselves.

He was eventually admitted thanks to the intervention of a compassionate nurse, and tests revealed a serious spinal infection requiring emergency spinal and knee surgery. My father is still in recovery and remains unable to walk independently.

When I raised these concerns with The Pain Collective, their response was defensive and dismissive, and no responsibility was taken at the time.

After a formal investigation by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Dr Karriem was found guilty of negligence for failing to provide adequate post-operative care, which resulted in significant complications and morbidity. She has been formally sanctioned and fined under the Health Professions Act.

While no disciplinary outcome can undo what my father endured, I am grateful that the matter was taken seriously and that corrective action was taken to protect future patients from similar harm.

I’ve also observed that The Pain Collective removes negative feedback from their Facebook reviews section, which prevents patients from seeing a full and balanced view of others’ experiences.