NAGERCOIL: A mother of two who had slipped into coma after negligent doctors at the Government hospital here administered her nitrous oxide instead of oxygen, died at a private hospital in Vellore on Friday after over a year’s battle for survival.
Rukmani, the 34-year old victim of one of the worst cases of medical negligence in recent times, had undergone a family planning operation at the Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital (KGMCH) in Aasaripallam on March 19, 2011. During the surgery, doctors and paramedic staff had wrongly administered nitrous oxide to her instead of providing a mask fitted to an oxygen cylinder.
Rukmani became unconscious and later slipped into a coma. After trying to revive her condition, the doctors shifted her to the Rajaji Government Hospital in Madurai on April 12, 2011.
Rukmani’s case had hit the headlines after voluntary organisations stepped in to demand criminal action against the doctors. Her husband Ganesan, who is a coconut merchant in Chembonvilai near Eathamozhy in Kanyakumari, had moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking compensation and proper treatment for her. In March this year, the State government shifted her to a hospital in Vellore district for specialised care and treatment.
Early on Friday Rukmani, died. “My wife never recovered from the impact of a wrong treatment,” an emotional Ganesan said.