Family awarded RM5.9 million after doctors left bleeding patient to 'go for a drink' - Report

SHAH ALAM – Two senior doctors with over 60 years of experience in obstetrics and 8,500 deliveries were found guilty of malpractice after leaving a patient in critical condition under the supervision of unregistered nurses to go for a drink.

According to English daily the New Straits Times (NST), for the medical negligence, the Klang High Court awarded RM5.9 million in damages to the famly of the patient, M. Punita who died from excessive bleeding while giving birth.

It was reported that the family sued the doctors, Dr M. Shanmugam, Dr A. Ravi and nurses Izaniey Nataliah Jukimin, Nur Aida Mat Isa and Nessy Yasah, over the death of the 36-year-old woman.

Punita died at the Shan Maternity and Birthing Centre due to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) after giving birth to her second child on Jan 9, 2019.

According to NST, the court was told that Punita began bleeding heavily after her placenta was removed, but Dr Ravi left the clinic for a drink, leaving her in the care of three nurses who were not registered with the Health Ministry.

It was reported that despite lacking necessary qualifications, the nurses were tasked to monitor the patient and Dr Shanmugam was also seen leaving the delivery room, leaving Punita under the care and supervision of the nurses.

Punita's mother then discovered her daughter bleeding profusely, with nurses attempting to stop the haemorrhage using cotton.

Despite urgent attempts to transfer her to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang, Punita’s condition worsened and she died after a failed emergency surgery.

According to NST, judge Norliza Othman in delivering her decision condemned the doctors for their lack of urgency and absence during a time when their intervention could have saved the patient's life.

"Despite their extensive experience in obstetrics, both doctors failed to anticipate complications commonly associated with childbirth, such as eclampsia and retained placenta leading to PPH.

"Both of them left the delivery room without ensuring the deceased was free from complications. The nurses, who were not proven to have proper qualifications, were left to manage the patient.

"The collective negligence of the defendants directly contributed to the deceased's severe injuries, leading to her death," the judge said.

The judge also condemned the doctors for their "reckless disregard" of Punita's condition, highlighting their collective negligence as the direct cause of her untimely death.

"This tragic event could have been prevented had both doctors taken swift action by sending the mother to HTAR and closely monitoring her condition, instead of leaving her in the care of nurses while Dr Ravi went out for a drink.

"This level of neglect is inexcusable and directly contributed to the untimely death of a healthy mother," she added.

The court awarded the family RM5,993,936 in damages, including RM500,000 for the pain and suffering of the deceased; RM1 million each for the deceased's two children; RM300,000 each for her parents; RM1.5 million in aggravated damages against Dr Ravi; RM700,000 in aggravated damages against Dr Shanmugam and his clinic; and RM100,000 in punitive damages.