The Colombo District Court today (29) ordered the government to pay a compensation fee of Rs.30 million to a mother who birthed a child with disabilities at the Gampaha District Hospital due to the negligence of doctors and hospital staff.
Colombo Additional District Judge Kalhari Liyanage issued the verdict over a case filed by the mother of the child, a resident of Biyagama.
The mother stated before Court that she was admitted to the Gampaha Hospital on the 14th of May 2012 for delivery.
The complaint stated that she was in unbearable pain and despite informing hospital staff and doctors they were unresponsive towards treating the expectant woman.
The complaint charges that when she was escorted to the delivery room, she informed the doctor of the severe pain she was experiencing which yet again went ignored.
The mother filed the case on behalf of her daughter claiming she gave birth to a child with disabilities due to the negligent actions of the doctors and hospital staff and demanded compensation amounting to Rs.50 million.
The Colombo Additional District Judge, who announced the verdict after a lengthy trial, said the responsibility of treating a patient upon admittance to a hospital lies with the doctor and the assigned hospital staff.
The Court verdict claimed that the Gampaha Hospital is a operated by the government while salaries of doctors and staff are paid by the government.
The judge stated that taxes paid by the public is used to pay salaries.
The judge claimed that although evidence indicates that the situation arose due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the foetus’ neck, adding that this situation could have been prevented if the doctor and staff responded immediately by carrying out the necessary tests.
As a result today the chid is unable to speak, move her limbs, and walk, and suffers from frequent convulsions.
