THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Pathanamthitta Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered hospital officials to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation and refund around Rs 1.7 lakh as expenses to a woman who approached it alleging medical negligence. According to the complaint registered by the woman hailing from Nedumon near Adoor, she had approached Dr Saramma Thomas of Mar Gregorious Memorial Muthoot Medical Centre, Kozhenchery, with her third pregnancy. At the time of consultation, she had revealed to the doctor that her previous pregnancy was a tubular one. She delivered a baby on June 3, 2014, and the doctor allegedly asked the complainant to undergo post- partum surgery (PPS).
The complainant was told by the doctor that the fallopian tube will not be visible later and that there was every chance of tubular pregnancy in future. The surgery was conducted on June 6, 2014, and a tear occurred in the caecum (a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines) while releasing the adhesion. As a result, she had to be admitted to the surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for seven days and was isolated from the newborn child for the said duration. Next month, she had to be admitted to a hospital in Kochi where a corrective surgery was done. The presence of a collas bag in her abdomen caused inconvenience in feeding the baby.
The respondents said that the small tear in caecum was noticed during surgery but could not be closed due to the presence of faecal matters in the colon. Therefore, it was decided to do cecostomy later and the bystanders were informed. The woman did not turn up for the corrective surgery, they argued. However, the forum did not find merit in their response and ordered them to pay compensation and reimburse medical expenses incurred with interest, thereof.
