Thiruvananthapuram based private hospital to compensate for fetal death

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed staffers of a Thiruvananthapuram- based private hospital to pay Rs 12 lakh for medical negligence that allegedly claimed the life of an unborn child and left the mother with serious health issues. As per the complaint by Veena Krishnan of Varukadu, Thiruvananthapuram, during her advanced pregnancy period, she suffered serious breathing problems from December 24, 2008. There was also inflammation (oedema) of her legs.

She met Dr Subhadra Nair at her residence. With no respite coming from prescribed medicines, she was admitted to Cosmopolitan hospital. She was put on anti-asthma meditation, antibiotics and iron tablets. She allegedly began sinking on January 5 and relatives appealed to doctors to carry out a Caesarean operation. She suffered hypoglycaemia and BP drop on January 9. Doctors assured them that the child was fine and finally a Caesarean was suggested on January 13. However, during ECG and Echo tests it was found that the child had died a day earlier due to dilated cardiopathy.

Meanwhile, hospital officials sent the patient to another hospital allegedly to escape from further consequences. Ms. Krishnan underwent an operation, dialysis and other treatments at KIMS hospital which cost her Rs 6 lakh. She then sought a compensation of '30 lakh and moved the consumer Commission. The hospital claimed that the patient reported leaking per vaginum in the labour room on January 13.

Even the sound of the foetal heart was noticed until 11.30am. So it was wrong to say that the child died a day before. The hospital told the court that Peripartem cardiomyopathy was seen only in the last month of pregnancy and it occurs only in one out of 20,000 pregnancies.However, the consumer Commission did not buy the arguments and directed the hospital to pay up '12 lakhs.