Mother seeks justice

11 February 2013 05:26 pm - 93 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Giving evidence at the inquiry into the death of a five-year-old girl at the Colombo Nawaloka Hospital, the mother today pleaded in Court not to let the investigations into the death of her daughter is covered up by the money power.

The 40-year-old Indumathi Ekanayake a resident of Heiyantuduwa told Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne that she was making such a request because similar tragedies could happen to other patients in the future. The Magistrate observed that he would conduct a fair inquiry in accordance with the legal provisions vested in him.

The witness said, on January 31 she brought her daughter to the Nawaloka Hospital in Colombo because she was suffering from minor symptoms similar to a fit. She said it was the first time that the child had suffered from such abnormal behaviour. The mother said the doctor who checked the child recommended three blood tests and to obtain an MRI scan report. The witness said after being anesthetized, her daughter Buddhini Kaushalya Ratnayake was put into the MRI scanning machine and a sound was heard after 30 minutes.

“There were only a doctor and a technician inside the MRI scan room when the incident happened. I heard the doctor shouting that the balloon had exploded and nobody was there to assist him. I pushed off a ward attendant towards the room because there was nobody inside the room to help the doctor. When my daughter was pulled out from the machine, I saw, she had turned blue and the belly had become swollen. Other doctors came there 0nly after eight or ten minutes had lapsed,” the witness said.

“Then they admitted my child to the ICU and put on a vacuum machine when I told them her body was so cold. They were deceiving us for a period of four days. On the fourth day I saw ants entering her nose,” she said.

She said one of the doctors who were in the hospital told her that the death was not due to the fault of hospital management. She further complained to court that although her daughter had died inside the MRI scan machine; the hospital management had concealed this fact and declared that she died four days later.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate observed that officials of the hospital would be summoned to give evidence in connection with the incident on the next hearing date and further magisterial inquiry was fixed for February 18.

Counsel Ravindranath Dabare and Rushanka Samaranayake appeared for the aggrieved party. Counsel Arosha Koggalawellala and Akalanka Ukwatta appeared for Nawaloka Hospital. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

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Comments - 93

Roshan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:58 AM

We better wait for the court judgment. Most of the private hospitals do their best for the patient even though they charge. It is patients’ choice to go for a better service with a cost or die at a government waiting list.

K Amran Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:00 AM

There is no space for conscience... only for MONEY.

ahmeer Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:53 AM

HOSPITAL IS NOT NAWALOKA IT IS YAMALOKA

mike Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:27 AM

hey buffalo u are not a sinhalease but a LTTE bugger. what about the lies u spread that all Tamil doctors are killed in colombo?

Sri Lankan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:15 AM

Bodhu Bala sena where are you??

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:13 AM

Bingo...very accurate summary...Sri Lankan style.

DHA Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:41 AM

Never consult an in-house doctors at this place....always have a expert visit you if u r warded.....

Kokila Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:36 AM

Two points here, either you ignored it or covered up by money?

jude Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:27 AM

Rata Haraka, Remember majority are good at only talking. If you say stand together, 1st you should put a action plan on how you intend to go about it or do you want some one to do it for you & then you will follow. What a shame

Rata Haraka Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:15 AM

My sincerest condolences to the bereaved family.

I think we should all stand together as a community, as citizens and support the family's fight for justice. As individuals we are weak, as a group, together, we are strong.

That is the only way we can fight this madness and obtain justice. Not just for this family, but for all of us. We owe nothing less for the future generations, for other potential victims. For we never know, it could happen to us and then who will stand up against it?

aj Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:11 AM

this is a real shame......and hearing news like this is a bad sign for all of us living in SL.............Cute Little angel......Deepest symperthies

Roshan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 07:02 AM

Only the Learned Impartial Judiciary in Sri Lanka can reveal the truth & prevent repeating such incidents!!!

Roshan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:17 AM

Some illnesses are not curable. You don’t know what time you die. You can’t just blame for a hospital for that. Listen to both stories. Then only come in to a judgment.

Lal Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:51 AM

In this country if you want to get the justice done you should at least have one of the following three powers on your side: 1. Political influence 2. Underworld support 3. Police backing. It is certain Nawaloka has all three forces whereas victim’s family has got nothing on their side. So, what kind of outcome you would expect from these so called investigations? Everything will be twisted in favour of the Hospital.

Nodrog Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:36 AM

Not everyone can be tarred with the same brush. And why do you mention only Sinhalese? Are other communities honest? What about the tamils going around the world spreading lies?

Ranjit Wicks, Japan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:37 AM

My mother died at Nawaloka in 1995 due to carelessness of the doctors who were greedy for money.

Kiwi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:35 AM

Take care of patients? Where? At Govt Hospitals????

Ranjith Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:20 AM

Private Hospitals like the Private buses,don't care about patiens only want to increse the charges-Aargee.

MM Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:19 AM

Oh God this should not happen to any other...Give her(mother) strength to bear it...

Nihal Amarasekera Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:06 AM

Hospital should admit the fault and pay compensation.

mushi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:54 AM

oh my god. all of us poor and rich, politicians concern only money. humanity second. 1st would change politicians' minds.

myya Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:50 AM

Hats off Dailymirror.....publishing this news.

Kodithuwakkuarachchi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:42 AM

Dear mother,

With all sympathies unless you are related or friends with a politician there is no way you can get any justice in SrI Lanka.

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:36 AM

Never, never...look at Gota and MR still surviving without any problems after murdering so many in the north.

kimuduni Wednesday, 06 March 2013 08:12 AM

I agree with you.should cancel Doctors licence.

Shevon Wednesday, 13 February 2013 12:00 AM

Someone should take serious action against Nawaloka. Their standards are abosolutely poor. via DM Android App

Yehiya Kamal Wednesday, 13 February 2013 06:28 AM

That's True !!!!!

sach Wednesday, 13 February 2013 05:16 AM

court judgement? there is no rule n court now.

Eashwar Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:25 PM

RIP! should investigate this matter in such way.. but
dont think so there will be a justice on this, what happened to our CJ Shirani Bandaranayaka...Hopeless

angel Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:43 AM

Let us protest this in our own way. DO NOT go to this hospital from now on.

LondonBuwa Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:33 AM

The Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket is also the Chairman of Nawaloka Hospitals.
That is all.

Mohamed Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:28 AM

My heartfelt condolence to the family , let's hope they get justice , hospitals are just money making machines , they plunder the sick and make them do unnecessary tests , recently this hospital was caught breading dengue mosquitoes ,
rest in peace baby we will always remember you in our prayers.

raj Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:07 AM

What an insensitive comment.

Ashiq Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:59 AM

My sincerest condolences to the family.

It is coming ... The Day of Judgment, where will you get the justice other than that day.

jayantha silva Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:58 AM

Well said.

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:35 AM

I bet my last dollar, the investigation will be twisted.

Observer Observer Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:45 AM

Let that poor girl,s soul rest in peace. All those responsible should be punished

Raja Raju Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:34 AM

I think I saw this incident, first week of January .The relatives were arguing with doctor. And one young man asked whether the patient in the ICU will walk tomorrow perfectly.

Garan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:23 AM

same incident happened recently at Nawaloka Hospital, My neighbor uncle died in heart attack, but they keep them in ICU for 3 days for no reason. giving fake promise but after 3 days doctors said he was dead and charged 8 Lacks for 3 days in ICU alone..... People be aware of these money sucking leeches.

D. Wijesiriwardenaah Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:18 AM

Nithya its because the child was dead that the ants started coming

Shan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:12 AM

These Incidents happening frequently in private Hospitals but non of them bring it to the light of public, Hats Off to the mother who is not only fighting for daughters death but her social awareness to tell to the public what is really happening in Hospitals nowadays.

Ainharan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:05 AM

same incident happened recently at Nawaloka Hospital, My neighbor uncle died in heart attack, but they keep them in ICU for 3 days for no reason. giving fake promise that he will get well soon but after 3 days doctors said he was dead and charged 8 Lacks for 3 days in ICU alone..... People be aware of these money sucking leeches.

idroos2002 Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:01 AM

All prospective medical students and current Doctors should understand their noble duty to human beings .

Though life and Death is in the hand of god almighty.

If they cant hold on this please give up pursuing medical science .

All the doctors should should pool together and pay for this

Shan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:55 AM

Capital punishment should be imposed to Hospital Management if they found guilty.

ambaruwa Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:45 AM

nowadays doctors are going crazy

sahdi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:41 AM

PLEASE PLEASE.........! DO NOT PLAY WITH PATIENT'S......

Mahehs Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:35 AM

You will not get it. All the medical mafia is with government.. What you can do is take this injustice to the general public.

Lankan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:33 AM

heart felt condolences to the parents of this tragedy. please all readers and comments help this family to prove their case. This could happen to any one of us or our family members.

These hospitals nowadays a strictly money minded and as per the narration of the mother, the story might be possible. coz we have heard many incidents of such nature where the patients die and they are pronounced dead only after few days, just to cover up or increase the hospital bills.

Let us stand against hospital mafia

SFA Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

this is sad... i wonder if the hospital didnt charge.. if they didnt that may be proven grounds to sue the hospital. via DM Android App

Dhammika Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:22 AM

Private hospitals need to be regulated.They are only interested in making money.The nursing staff are not qualified nor properly trained. The ministry should insist that they recruit only nurses who have gone through the Govt nursing school. The whole private medical service including Channeling needs regulation

Satha Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:16 AM

Similar incident have happened in a Hospital in narahenpita too, for one of my friend's brother. Once patient died they kept them for extra 3 days in the ICU and charged one lakh per day and demented it before release the body. They do it for not only for money and to make the relative struggle to arrange the money and make them scared enough not to take any action against them. Court rule of this incident should be an example for others.

Muhammad Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

Deepest condol

malkanthi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 01:43 AM

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

Sri Lankan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 01:15 AM

Are they human being? Fed up of hearing these kind of news everyday,

Shan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 01:15 AM

These Private Hospitals are only after money. They have only recognition but not efficiency. Take care of your patients.

ANTON Tuesday, 12 February 2013 01:12 AM

Poor mother will have to fight against big shots and fat cats.

ampare son Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:52 AM

may be some metal inside. technician didnt check.

ss Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:54 AM

What despicable conduct by the hospital and the doctors. Do not these people have any conscience

Sapumal Bandara Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:41 AM

This is the prize that the common man has to pay for the total failure of the Health System in Sri Lanka.
Who is responsible for this pathetic situation?

Peter Monday, 11 February 2013 10:52 PM

Navaloka Mudalali's Hospital's all surgical operations & scanning should be suspended by Health Ministry ( unless they are bribed)

rukshaan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

lets see how lankans gonna handle this case..besides they blamed saudi for rizanas case yeah.aww may be big money wil cover this story.lets count on this for justice whether srilanka has one o not via DM Android App

Lanka007 Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

Apparently the anaethetist has inserted the ventilator Endotracheal tube into the esophagus. Causing the air to go into stomach instead of lungs. At last pressure busted the ambu bag. Anaethetist is at fault. Not hospital. via DM Android App

Tania Monday, 11 February 2013 07:38 PM

This country has become a paradise for Killer Doctors and Killer Hospitals. Few weeks back it was Durdens and now Nawaloka everything's messed up almost every where :|

smf Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

My deepest sympathies. Nothing can b done they say. Our systems are such.

Bavana John Monday, 11 February 2013 07:17 PM

Oh Hospitals and Doctors are playing with human life. Proper investigation and law should be follow in this matter.

Abdul Monday, 11 February 2013 06:36 PM

This is atrocious & inhumane, justice must be done, not the 1st time this hospital is in this kind of news

suresh Monday, 11 February 2013 06:31 PM

If the doctors are found to lie, they should be struck off from the register

Elakiri Monday, 11 February 2013 12:00 AM

Poor kid. via DM Android App

Cobbler Monday, 11 February 2013 06:01 PM

Should be an authority to monitor these private hospitals and specially the chrges should be monitored.

Karma Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:15 AM

Nawaloka murdered my mother in law 9years ago and washed there hands using there political influences at that time. If there is a god or karma which we believing, mother nature it's high time to show us your punishment towards these murders .................

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:34 AM

Both are at fault. The anaethtist for medical blunder that lead to murder (which means imprisonment) and Nawaloka Hospital for compensation to the next of kin.

K Amran Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:30 AM

Of course you can have justice in SL whether you are right or wrong if you are rich or is politically powerful. For the rest of us it is 'hulang'

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:28 AM

Ha Ha, we sinhalese are born to be dishonest, look at our leaders what they go and tell in UN while doing otherwise here.

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:27 AM

How can? When donations for party work goes from these hospitals; free medical assistance for Ministers, hush hush.

sen Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:22 AM

True the justice will be done by the God, poor child may be she never require a MRI but the hospital may have put for a MRI to get more money at last this child is gone. RIP darling.

Manendra Rajapakse Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:23 AM

Don't you think any authority in this country can't be corrupted easily. Strict laws and harsh punishments are the way out.

Nodrog Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:18 AM

This will never happen because another doctor has to bear testimony to any wrong-doing. And we all know how our docs stick up for each other...right or wrong.

Mohan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:20 AM

In Sri Lanka,Con Doctors, Criminals,and lawyers make good money while others are undergoing massive pain in mind while struggling to survive.

Yehiya Tuesday, 12 February 2013 05:18 AM

Calibration of equipment & safety systems very poor in Sri lanka.Its very shock. Never justice for that lost girl.

LankanFellow Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:27 AM

my deepest sympathies to the mother.

sandy Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:20 AM

condolences to the parents... pls take action to punish culprits, who dont care for human life and dont understand the pain of a mother to lose a child raised for 5yars with care and love

THUSH Monday, 11 February 2013 12:00 AM

My farther also passed away due to poor management by consultant doctor after undergone a surgery on his hip at Nawaloka hospital. via DM Android App

Andrew Pitugala Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:13 AM

Very sad plight of the mother.
Private Hospitals are money spinning ventures,
patients are the pawns.

jumbo Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:12 AM

Do not let powerfull connections interupt this inquiry i have 3 kids my heartfelt condolance. May god give u strength.

Thomas RangerThomas Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:11 AM

a pretty little kid. Heartfelt condolences to the parents.

Miracle Child Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:07 AM

I don't believe, even if that is the case,
who hired the anasthetist?
The Hostpital
Legal responsibility lies with the Hospital
Im sure you are from Nawaloka

Dee Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:08 AM

this is like driving a vehicle recklessly and blaming the vehicle. sri lanka is still alien to medical negligence.

Kiwi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:06 AM

Justice in Sri Lanka????? You must be joking!

shantha rupasinghe Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:02 AM

agree

roshanth Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:00 AM

This is true!!

lalitha Tuesday, 12 February 2013 03:00 AM

bad country to be in to seek justice

Nithya Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:51 AM

Ants in the ICU? It is a serious matter to take note of.

Do they have an effective Infection Control Team?

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Mother seeks justice

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