Miss-Delectable
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Record Medical Negligence Lawsuit Over Deaf Child
The parents of a three-year-old girl who became deaf after a series of antibiotic injections at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital are suing the Ministry of Health for a record Rf 7.1 million.
A Malé doctor and several overseas paediatricians have told them the antibiotic was inappropriate in her case and was probably the cause of her hearing loss.
No help has been given to the family to deal with her condition since the child lost her hearing in July 2007, and only minimal assistance offered for her medical costs.
The Rf 7.1 million would pay for cochlear implants, the child’s only hope of regaining her hearing, along with six-monthly maintenance for the rest of her life and associated costs for travel and care.
Deafness
The child, now four, has suffered developmentally and emotionally since losing her hearing, says her father, Ahmed Ihusan of Gaaf Daal Fares. “She is not the same – she is always very angry now,” he says.
She was originally admitted to Thinadhoo Regional Hospital suffering a fever and a swollen arm in July 2007, after referral from the health centre on her island.
Paediatrician Dr Pawal recommended operating to remove pus from her arm. This was carried out on 14 July, though no pus was discovered during surgery.
On that day she was given two 80mg injections of the antibiotic Gentamycin, which is recommended only for specific, serious infections such as meningitis.
A third shot of Gentamycin was administered on 15 July, and a second operation carried out on 16 July.
Within four days, the child began complaining of a blockage in her ears, and tests found her to be completely deaf. She now does not speak, cannot attend school, and has suffered ongoing difficulties with balance.
Fight For Treatment
It was the start of a quest by the child’s parents to secure their daughter adequate care and treatment, in which the lawsuit is the latest move.
The suit follows a number of doctors confirming that her condition is directly related to the injections she received in hospital.
Dr Mauroof Hussein of Malé’s Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital wrote after examination that the child had “developed sudden, profound nerve deafness of both ears, probably due to ototoxicity caused by Gentamycin (which is a commonly given antibiotic in high grade infections).”
Foreign specialists have since confirmed his judgement, the child’s parents say.
The parents have also sought help from the Ministry of Health, President’s Office and Department of Social Security.
But the Ministry of Health responded that the minister was too busy to assist, according to the parents; the President’s Office was unable to help and Social Security offered just one set of tickets to Trivandrum and US $300, a fraction of the funds required.
The relevant agencies could not confirm these details on Tuesday, saying they needed to check their records.
Meanwhile no specialist help has been made available to the family, which has subsequently spent Rf 300,000 on extended medical visits to India and Sri Lanka.
The Lawsuit
The child’s only hope of regaining her hearing is to undergo cochlear implants, specialists have said.
Represented by lawyer Husnu Suood on a pro bono basis, the family are suing the Health Ministry for medical costs so far; the cost of surgery, rehabilitation and maintenance of cochlear implants in both ears; psychological damage and future loss of earnings due to disability, totalling Rf 7.1 million.
The lawsuit says doctors at the hospital, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, administered an overdose of Gentomycin.
They also failed to check the child’s weight or the serum concentration in the injections, the suit alleges, plus the drug was inappropriate to her condition.
The civil case has been filed against the Ministry of Health because it administrates Thinadhoo Regional Hospital. It is the largest such case ever brought in Maldives.
“A previous medical negligence case, against IGMH, has been pending for two years,” Suood says. “We hope this will be dealt with much more quickly.”
Meanwhile the child’s family are appealing for donors to help with her immediate care and treatment. Anyone interesting in donating can contact minivan.news@gmail.com in the first instance.
The parents of a three-year-old girl who became deaf after a series of antibiotic injections at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital are suing the Ministry of Health for a record Rf 7.1 million.
A Malé doctor and several overseas paediatricians have told them the antibiotic was inappropriate in her case and was probably the cause of her hearing loss.
No help has been given to the family to deal with her condition since the child lost her hearing in July 2007, and only minimal assistance offered for her medical costs.
The Rf 7.1 million would pay for cochlear implants, the child’s only hope of regaining her hearing, along with six-monthly maintenance for the rest of her life and associated costs for travel and care.
Deafness
The child, now four, has suffered developmentally and emotionally since losing her hearing, says her father, Ahmed Ihusan of Gaaf Daal Fares. “She is not the same – she is always very angry now,” he says.
She was originally admitted to Thinadhoo Regional Hospital suffering a fever and a swollen arm in July 2007, after referral from the health centre on her island.
Paediatrician Dr Pawal recommended operating to remove pus from her arm. This was carried out on 14 July, though no pus was discovered during surgery.
On that day she was given two 80mg injections of the antibiotic Gentamycin, which is recommended only for specific, serious infections such as meningitis.
A third shot of Gentamycin was administered on 15 July, and a second operation carried out on 16 July.
Within four days, the child began complaining of a blockage in her ears, and tests found her to be completely deaf. She now does not speak, cannot attend school, and has suffered ongoing difficulties with balance.
Fight For Treatment
It was the start of a quest by the child’s parents to secure their daughter adequate care and treatment, in which the lawsuit is the latest move.
The suit follows a number of doctors confirming that her condition is directly related to the injections she received in hospital.
Dr Mauroof Hussein of Malé’s Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital wrote after examination that the child had “developed sudden, profound nerve deafness of both ears, probably due to ototoxicity caused by Gentamycin (which is a commonly given antibiotic in high grade infections).”
Foreign specialists have since confirmed his judgement, the child’s parents say.
The parents have also sought help from the Ministry of Health, President’s Office and Department of Social Security.
But the Ministry of Health responded that the minister was too busy to assist, according to the parents; the President’s Office was unable to help and Social Security offered just one set of tickets to Trivandrum and US $300, a fraction of the funds required.
The relevant agencies could not confirm these details on Tuesday, saying they needed to check their records.
Meanwhile no specialist help has been made available to the family, which has subsequently spent Rf 300,000 on extended medical visits to India and Sri Lanka.
The Lawsuit
The child’s only hope of regaining her hearing is to undergo cochlear implants, specialists have said.
Represented by lawyer Husnu Suood on a pro bono basis, the family are suing the Health Ministry for medical costs so far; the cost of surgery, rehabilitation and maintenance of cochlear implants in both ears; psychological damage and future loss of earnings due to disability, totalling Rf 7.1 million.
The lawsuit says doctors at the hospital, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, administered an overdose of Gentomycin.
They also failed to check the child’s weight or the serum concentration in the injections, the suit alleges, plus the drug was inappropriate to her condition.
The civil case has been filed against the Ministry of Health because it administrates Thinadhoo Regional Hospital. It is the largest such case ever brought in Maldives.
“A previous medical negligence case, against IGMH, has been pending for two years,” Suood says. “We hope this will be dealt with much more quickly.”
Meanwhile the child’s family are appealing for donors to help with her immediate care and treatment. Anyone interesting in donating can contact minivan.news@gmail.com in the first instance.