Surgery goes wrong during delivery; Hospitals to pay Rs 6.56 lakh to woman
Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North) has directed two private hospitals to pay a compensation of Rs 6.56 lakh to a woman who developed complications during delivery of a baby. After the delivery, she was under treatment for two years and underwent two surgeries.
In the petition Mrs V. Visalakshi, Kolathur, submitted that she was admitted in Raghavi Hospital, affiliated with K. J. Hospital Research and Postgraduate Centre, Mogappair East. She was treated by hospital director, Dr Balamani Mugian. She delivered a male baby on August 24, 2008.
The director informed her husband that it was a normal delivery and there was no complication during delivery. However, she came to know that the director performed a surgical ‘Episiotomy’ procedure. As the surgical procedure was not performed properly, she developed complications. Next day, she was discharged from the hospital.
On September 2, 2008, as she became ill, she was rushed to a nearby SKS Hospital, Anna Nagar West Extension, and a second surgery was performed in the hospital on September 6, 2008.
In October 2008, again, she developed intense pain in the same place. She was rushed to C.S.M. Nursing Home, West Mambalam and discharged from the nursing home October 11, 2008. The doctors advised her to take further antibiotics and also to consider for another surgery after 3 months. In spite of all these treatments the primal wound has not healed and she was suffering till 2010.
She sent notice to Raghavi Hospital, Dr Balamani Mugian, and SKS Hospital and sought compensation as she spent several lakh of rupees towards her treatment and her husband could not continue his milk vending profession.
In their reply, the director and Raghavi hospital submitted that the hospital took great care of her as per medical protocol and effecting normal delivery of a male baby to her.
While delivering the baby ‘episiotomy’ was done. There was a slight puss formation and it was episiotomy wound, a common occurrence in the abnormal delivery. Subsequently, she never came back to the hospital.
The SKS hospital replied that proper treatment was given to her. After re-suturing, she was treated in the hospital for 10 days. The hospital sought the Forum to dismiss the complaint with exemplary cost as devoid of merits.
The bench comprising president K. Jayabalan and Member T. Kalaiyarasi said following the Episiotomy’ procedure she took treatment for more than two years. She was also treated at the Government General Hospital from February 14, 2009 and underwent two further surgeries.
The bench directed Raghavi Hospital, Dr Balamani Mugian and SKS Hospital to jointly or severally pay a compensation of Rs 1,51,964 towards her medical expenses and to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for causing mental agony and cost of Rs 5, 000 in six weeks.
