Medical negligence killed woman, 77?

Instrument used to remove water from lungs pierced heart, inquest told:

Hemantha Dep

COLOMBO: A 77-year-old mother of one admitted to a leading Colombo Hospital with a history of a lung infection died due to alleged medical negligence when an instrument used to remove water from her lungs accidentally has pierced her heart.

This was revealed at the inquest on the death of Verdin Lakshmi Silva of Don Carolis Place, Narahenpita by Additional City Coroner Mohamed Ashraff Rumi at the Colombo Coroner’s Court yesterday.

Tilak Seth Shelton Silva, 37, said in evidence that the deceased was his mother.

She was suddenly taken ill and admitted to a leading Colombo hospital for treatment. Doctors attending on her told him that she was suffering from pneumonia and they had to insert a camera to remove water from her lungs.

But he objected to the use of a camera saying she was too weak. One of the doctors came to the ward and instructed him to leave the ward. About eight minutes later, the doctor told him that the water was removed and showed him three red coloured vials.

Suddenly his mother’s condition worsened and she was taken to the ICU. Around 6.00 p.m., the two doctors informed him that there was heavy bleeding and his mother was pronounced dead around 10 p.m.

He said he had doubts about the actual cause of his mother’s death. JMO D. L. I. Ratnayake who held the autopsy in her report, said the death was due to excessive bleeding from an injury to the heart caused by a medical instrument.

The Additional Coroner returned an open verdict and noticed the JMO to appear in Court on March 8 and the doctor to appear on March 15 to record their evidence.

Maradana Police led evidence.