Hospital, surgeon, anaesthetist sued for negligence

Sandasen Marasinghe

A plaint was filed before the District Court against a private hospital and two doctors alleging that a six year old child was rendered disabled owing to their negligence.

W.D. Disal Weliwatta of Pelanwatte, Pannipitiya filed the plaint before the Colombo District Court alleging that he became totally blind, dumb and is unable to walk after a surgery by the two doctors.

Plaintiff filed the plaint against Eye Surgeon Manawattage Wijedasa of Battaramulla, Anaesthetist Priyadarshani Perera of Ratmalana and McCarthy Hospital of Colombo 7.

W. D. S. Weliwatta, father of Disal stated that they observed the child’s eyes were often watery in September 2007. Despite that situation the child was as healthy as any other child.

When the child was taken to the first defendant at the hospital, he stated that the child should undergo a minor operation lasting five minutes.

The father further stated that the child was admitted to the hospital on September 30, 2007 for the operation. Nearly fifteen minutes after the child was taken to the theatre, the anaesthetist had come out and inquired as to which eye he had the problem in.

The plaintiff also stated that after another five minutes the anaesthetist had stated that the child had a cardiac arrest and he would come back to normal after some time. But it did not happen so and the child was unconscious for eight days. Thereafter he was transferred to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital where he had to stay for nearly 45 days before he was discharged.

The father stated that the child became blind, dumb and unable to walk after the incident and it happened as a result of the negligence of the two doctors. The plaintiff claimed Rs 51 million as compensation.