KOCHI: Sabymol, a working woman from Cheranellore, went to a private hospital at Vyttila for a normal delivery as advertised by the hospital on April 1, 2007. But in a tragic turn of events, she was forced to undertake a caesarean section (C-section), lost her uterus and suffered damage to other internal organs, including kidney. Alleging medical negligence, Sabymol approached the Ernakulam Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, which has pronounced the verdict in her favour.
Sabymol, employed as a HC assistant, approached Dr Joy’s Hospital for women and children at Vyttila trusting their propaganda on normal painless delivery, efficient pre-natal services and other related medical services. The gynaecologist who attended to her was Dr Annie Joy. It was Sabymol’s second pregnancy and she had conceived following the medication advised by the doctor. The consumer forum observed that Sabymol was admitted in the hospital on April 1, 2007 as she started showing symptoms of labour pain, but was discharged after two days. After few days, she was admitted again in the hospital and was given medication intravenously when she developed normal labour pain. She did not experience labour pain the next day. She was told she will have to go for a C-section.
On April 20, the patient was shifted to the operation theatre. Though she was administered spinal anaesthesia she was fully conscious and was experiencing severe pain during surgery. When she again complained of pain she was sedated. But the next day she developed breathing difficulties and her stomach began bulging. The hospital authorities informed her relatives that the patient was in a critical condition and that arrangements should be made for blood. Huge quantity of blood had entered her lungs, which had to be removed and supplementary blood transfused. However, as the patient’s condition deteriorated they took her to another private hospital where her uterus was removed. They doctors here also found out that there was a tear extending to the broad ligament up to the pelvic wall, and that profuse bleeding could have caused her death.
The forum observed that the hospital failed to explain how the injury happened causing severe bleeding. “If bleeding persisted it could have led to the patient’s death. Besides causing severe pain and mental agony, they also had to spend huge money to repair the damaged ligament,” the forum observed. The forum has slapped a fine of `7,38,859.69 after finding the hospital guilty. The forum consisted of president A Rajesh, Sheen Jose and V K Beena Kumari.