Medical negligence case: Madras high court directs Ramanathapuram collector to take decision on interim compensation to woman

TNN | Mar 4, 2020, 04.58 PM IST

MADURAI: The Madras high court on Wednesday directed the Ramanathapuram district collector to examine the facts and take a decision on dispersal of a Rs 3lakh interim compensation in a medical negligence case where a broken needle was left in the body of a woman after childbirth in a primary health centre (PHC).

Justice C V Karthikeyan passed the interim order while hearing a plea moved by Ramya, 22, from Ramanathapuram district. The judge directed the collector to file a counter in this regard and adjourned the case to March 20.

In her petition, Ramya stated that she gave birth to a baby girl in Uchipuli PHC on November 19, 2019. It was a normal delivery. She stated that the delivery had been performed by nurses. The doctors were not present.

The woman said since she had suffered from a minor complication called episiotomy (surgical incision through vaginal wall during child birth) due to which she was bleeding even after she had been shifted to a ward.

She was referred to Government Hospital in Ramanathapuram where doctors asked her to take an x-ray. The x-ray showed a broken needle inside her body. She stated that the needle had been left inside her body by nurses after stitching her incision. Ther woman stated that she had been referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai where doctors removed the needle through a surgery on November 21.

Due to medical negligence in Uchipuli PHC, she was put to great hardship physically and mentally, according to her.

Hence, the petitioner moved the high court seeking a compensation. She also sought action against the staff of the PHC for their negligence.