Madras HC reduces Rs 3 lakh relief to Rs 60K for woman in failed tubectomy case

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has reversed the order of a single judge granting compensation of Rs 3 lakh to a woman who had developed pregnancy even after undergoing tubectomy at a administration hospital in Ranipet.

Key points

• The woman, Rihana of Ranipet, had three children when she underwent the surgery in 2018 at the administration hospital at Arcot.
• The single judge, apart from ordering Rs 3 lakh compensation, had additionally directed the administration to bear the entire cost of education of the child.
• The bench additionally stated the woman can seek remedy for higher compensation by approaching the appropriate civil court by proving the medical negligence claim.

Notably, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan set aside the order of the single judge while allowing the appeal filed by the state health department.

Notably, the woman, Rihana of Ranipet, had three children when she underwent the surgery in 2018 at the administration hospital at Arcot. Nevertheless, she became pregnant in 2021. She then approached the high court alleging medical negligence and seeking compensation.

In practice, the single judge, apart from ordering Rs 3 lakh compensation, had additionally directed the administration to bear the entire cost of education of the child. Reversing the order, the first bench observed that the affected woman is eligible for only Rs 60, 000 compensation as per a G.O. Of the state administration governing such failed surgical procedure.

Meanwhile, the bench additionally stated the woman can seek remedy for higher compensation by approaching the appropriate civil court by proving the medical negligence claim.

For now, madras HC reduces Rs 3 lakh relief to Rs 60K for woman remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.