Johannesburg: Tom London, a radio talk show host, posted a video on September 7, 2024, depicting a man’s final moments in a hospital bed. The deceased individual was identified as Nicolaas van Burick, and his mother, Cecilia van Burick, was informed of his passing through this video.
Tom London has gained media attention for exposing the deplorable conditions at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg through his viral videos. In one such video, recorded live in a hospital ward, London stated, “The man over there is dying from liver failure. Two days ago, doctors performed a lumbar puncture while he was screaming in pain, and they were laughing.”
Cecilia van Burick contacted Tom London to confirm her son’s death and shared her distressing experience in a video. She alleged that a doctor failed to inform her of the cause of death and that the hospital staff displayed no empathy. Furthermore, she was told she would need to pay a fee to release her son’s body from the hospital.
In the same video, Cecilia described how she had to personally retrieve her son’s body from the mortuary, where staff were watching a movie. The video has elicited reactions from viewers, including Monica Dos Santos, who expressed condolences and emphasized the need for medical professionals to exhibit empathy, compassion, and kindness.