Tamil Nadu: 34-year-old widow loses leg due to alleged medical negligence, seeks Govt job

Dindigul: A 34-year-old woman who lost her leg in January due to alleged medical negligence caused by treatment at two private hospitals in Natham has urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to take action against the hospital and petitioned the Collector seeking a government job at the weekly grievances redressal meeting held in Dindigul.  

The widow, who is a mother of two children, identified as P Umamaheswari of Ashok Nagar in Natham submitted a letter to the Chief Minister through the District Collector S Visakan, placing the above-stated demands so that she could raise her two children. 

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The New Indian Express reports that the woman's husband had passed away two years ago due to Covid-19 and she had been the sole earner of her family by working as a tailor since then. She had been providing for her 11-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy by taking up odd jobs. 

The petition stated, "In January this year, I took ill with a fever and visited a private hospital in Natham. I was administered an injection on my right lower back, and within a few days, I developed a tumour. Then, I visited another private hospital in the same area and following further treatment, I was in severe pain and could not walk properly. Later, I got admitted to a private hospital in Ponnamaravathi in Sivaganga district since my parents reside there."

After visiting the Government Hospital in Natham, she was referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai where the doctors informed her that removing her leg was the only option since they reasoned that the blood vessels were blocked, reports the Hindu. The doctors at the hospital told her that her right leg needed to be amputated to save her life. 

She told TNIE, "I lost my leg because of the injection I received on my back at the first hospital. Without my husband and my right leg, how will I provide for my children? The CM should grant me a government job."

Uma said, "In a swift response, I was asked to meet a medical official at the Government Hospital in Dindigul who assured me that a committee will be formed to look into the issue and that all the doctors involved will be investigated in this regard."

Joint Director of Medical Services Dr Packiyalakshmi said that they have received instructions from District Collector S Visakan to form a team of surgeons to investigate the issue. Dr Packiyalakshmi said, "In the petition, the petitioner did not mention the hospital's name or what treatment was provided to her. We have asked her to furnish related information and documents. A detailed probe report will be submitted to the Collector next week."

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