Unnecessary C-section: Writ seeks Tk 25 lakh compensation

A writ has been filed with the High Court seeking compensation of Tk 25 lakh from the authority of a private hospital for performing an unnecessary caesarean section of a pregnant woman. 

Alongside, the writ also sought direction from the Health Ministry to take punitive action against the concerned.

On behalf of victim Rima Sultana from Gorarbag village in Chandraganj upazila of Lakshmipur, Supreme Court lawyer Md J R Khan Robin lodged the writ on Thursday.

Health secretary, Home secretary, director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Consumer Rights Protection managing director, inspector general (IG), Trust One Hospital director, doctors concerned, on-duty doctor and on-duty assistants at operation theature have been made respondent in the writ.

Regarding this, a legal notice was served on September 4 to take appropriate measures but authorities concerned did not do so, the writ said.

Lawyer Robin said Rima Sultana, daughter of Jamal Hossain Bipu, was admitted to Trust One Hospital in Noakhali on June 8 after she felt labour pain.

Saying that Sultana needs to have C-section, her caesarean operation was conducted on the following day.

Although the woman had no difficulties to give birth to child through normal delivery according to her Ultrasonography report, even it was not necessary to perform C-section.

On June 12, the woman returned home after treatment.

But she was again admitted to the same hospital on June 14 after she became seriously ill and there was scar on sewing place of her abdomen.

The hospital authorities accept the scar but did not take proper measure in this regard. 

Later, doctor Ayesha Mazumder who performed her C-section referred to BRB Hospital in capital Dhaka after her situation deteriorated.

The woman had to undergone operation again at the hospital on June 20, and recovered.

In recommendation, BRB hospital said the patient's C-section was not necessary.