Doctors mistake tumour for pregnancy, city woman seeks compensation

After examining the counter filed by the state, Justice T Raja, before whom the petition came up on Friday, sought for more clarifications from the health secretary, Medical Education director and the director of hospital and posted the matter for further hearing by two weeks. 

According to the petitioner, Asina Begum, she had gone to KGMH on April 11, 2016, after experiencing irregular menstruation. The doctors there diagnosed as pregnant, and gave November 18, 2016 as the tentative delivery date.

As the news came long after her marriage in 2009, the family was overjoyed and a baby shower ceremony was held on October 16, 2016. But thereafter, when she failed to develop any labour pains, Asina went to the hospital. The doctors checked the scan again and assured her that the baby was healthy and asked her to wait for a few more days. 

But on November 21, she developed acute pain in her abdomen and was rushed to the hospital. To her shock and surprise, the doctors informed Asina that she was not pregnant but was suffering from a small tumour in her abdomen. 

Alleging that the hospital staff had removed all the diagnosis papers that had indicated pregnancy from the notebook in which regular check-up details were noted, the petitioner said she approached a private scan Centre, wherein the scan confirmed no evidence of intrauterine pregnancy and that she had a small fibroid in the anterior wall of the Uterus. 

Stating that her husband is working as a daily wage labourer, she approached the hospital authorities on January 9, 2017, seeking compensation. But as the authorities failed to respond to her plea and even a notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission in this regard, she approached the court.