Newborn Loses 5 Fingers In Chennai, Hospital Asked To Pay Rs 23 Lakh For Treatment & Rs 10 Lakh For Pain

After the delivery, the infant was moved to NICU, where early signs of gangrene were detected. The condition progressed rapidly, resulting in the amputation of all five fingers.

The baby’s mother, who was undergoing fertility treatment, was 22 weeks pregnant when the doctor inserted a cervical pessary.

Source : Freepik

The Chennai North District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed a city-based hospital and a gynaecologist to pay Rs 33.75 lakh in total compensation after a premature baby lost all five fingers on his right hand due to gangrene. The order includes Rs 23.65 lakh towards medical expenses, Rs 10 lakh for pain and suffering, and Rs 10,000 as litigation costs.

The Commission recently ruled that the hospital and the doctor were negligent in their treatment and failed to justify the emergency nature of a cervical pessary procedure, which was conducted without obtaining proper consent. The Commission observed that neither the need for urgency nor the bypassing of consent was explained adequately.

Preterm Delivery Followed By Gangrene

According to the complaint, the baby’s mother, who was undergoing fertility treatment, was 22 weeks pregnant when the doctor inserted a cervical pessary, a silicone device used to prevent premature birth. The Commission noted that the insertion was done without appropriate testing or indication of an emergency, which ultimately led to preterm labour at 24 weeks.

After the delivery, the infant was moved to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where early signs of gangrene were detected. The condition progressed rapidly, resulting in the amputation of all five fingers of the infant’s right hand.

The Commission underscored the importance of obtaining informed consent, especially when dealing with high-risk pregnancies and invasive procedures. It concluded that both the hospital and the gynaecologist had acted negligently and were therefore liable for the physical and emotional trauma caused to the child and the family.

The hospital and doctor have not publicly responded to the order at the time of reporting.