Doc wins radiation case

30 July 2010 04:54 pm

By Susitha R. Fernando

The Colombo District Court today ordered the health services to pay Rs. five million to a 33 year old medical officer attached to the Maharagama cancer hospital after he was exposed to radiation making him permanently disabled

 

The District Court ordered Director General of Health Services, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and the Director of the National Cancer Hospital to pay the said sum, for their negligence and failure to maintain the radiation machine at the Maharagama cancer hospital.

 

The Court ruled that Dr. Wasantha Kumara Gamage was exposed to radiation due to the negligence of the defendant medical authorities. Therefore a sum of Rs. five million was to be paid to the medical officer together with interest from the year 2002.

 

Dr. Gamage had been exposed to radiation when he entered the radiation room to provide treatment to a patient on April 5, 2001 at the hospital.