Chennai Corporation asked to pay up as sterilisation procedure fails

Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed Chennai corporation to pay Rs 2.55 lakh to a woman after she became pregnant following performance of sterilization procedure two years ago. In the petition, Angel submitted that she has two children aged 8 and 6 years.

On November 11, 2001, she was admitted for delivery at Santhome sterilization theatre unit in hospital run by Chennai corporation. She gave birth to a healthy female baby on the next day.

As she was having three children she decided to undergo sterilization procedure. On November 15, 2001, the hospital conducted the sterilization procedure. As per advice of the hospital she followed up advice of the doctors after discharge. Four years later, she became pregnant.

When contacted the doctors advised her to abort the foetus but due to poor health condition they did not. She said the act of the unit and corporation amounts to gross deficiency in service and caused her mental agony and hardship.

In its reply, the medical officer, Santhome sterilization theatre unit submitted, that after getting consent from Angel, the sterilization was performed without charging any amount. After discharge she did not visit the unit for regular check-up. Hence, the unit has not committed any deficiency in service.

She was asked to report to the unit if she misses her period. Angel did not report to the unit after she missed her period. Hence, the petition liable to be dismissed, he said.

The bench comprising president, M. Mony, members K Amala and Dr T. Paul Rajasekaran said the after successful sterilization she became pregnant. The bench directed Corporation commissioner and medical officer to pay a compensation of Rs 2.55 lakh towards compensation for mental agony and maintenance of the child. The bench directed corporation to deposit the amount in the name of the child.