I have posted this forum to seek advice for my cousin. My cousin's wife delivered their newborn baby girl at a Private Hospital couple of months ago through c-section. A few days after birth, the surgeon confirmed that the baby was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease. Babies with this birth defects are born without special intestinal nerves cells called ganglion cells.
The surgeon opened up a hole (size of 5cts coin) in the stomach and connect the small intestine to this hole for her to pass motion. After a year, the small intestine will be moved to the anus and the large intestine will be removed completely.
After the surgery, due to the high costs at the ICU, my cousin and his wife decided to transfer the baby to NUH. The Senior Surgeon at NUH conducted a second round of test on the large intestine. To our surprise, he has confirmed that the large intestine does have the ganglion cells and this baby girl is a normal child. He then performed the second operation to put everything back together.
This entire nightmare caused the poor baby to suffer where I have no words to describe her suffering. Two ops within a month, needles poking to her neck, hands and legs. Family members watching round the clock at her hospital bedside. Financially burdened by the large hospital bills of almost $50K.
The surgeon from this Private Hospital called them for interview when he found out the problem recently (only 4 days ago). He pushed all responsibilities to the pathologist that the report given to him was wrong and misled him to the operation. After the interview, the CEO's secretary from this Private Hospital called my cousin telling them that they are looking into the case and will revert in 3 to 4 weeks time.
Before they revert, I like to take this opportunity to seek advice from the public. What should my cousin do in this kind of situation? They do not have much money to engage a so called "Medical Lawyer" which will be a very costly and lengthy process. What kind of compensation (if any) will they demand from Private Hospital? This is not only the money that they spent on the hospital bills. It involves emotional stress, physical suffering and permanent scars (2 long lines of about 8cm each and a stitched up hole) in the stomach. Also left behind an unknown future side effects. Insurance companies may impose loading on her too.
Although my cousin and wife were happy to see that they are now having a healthy child, we have advised them to pursue the matter further. This may also happen to any one else and we should stop this kind of neligence in the hospital.
The surgeon opened up a hole (size of 5cts coin) in the stomach and connect the small intestine to this hole for her to pass motion. After a year, the small intestine will be moved to the anus and the large intestine will be removed completely.
After the surgery, due to the high costs at the ICU, my cousin and his wife decided to transfer the baby to NUH. The Senior Surgeon at NUH conducted a second round of test on the large intestine. To our surprise, he has confirmed that the large intestine does have the ganglion cells and this baby girl is a normal child. He then performed the second operation to put everything back together.
This entire nightmare caused the poor baby to suffer where I have no words to describe her suffering. Two ops within a month, needles poking to her neck, hands and legs. Family members watching round the clock at her hospital bedside. Financially burdened by the large hospital bills of almost $50K.
The surgeon from this Private Hospital called them for interview when he found out the problem recently (only 4 days ago). He pushed all responsibilities to the pathologist that the report given to him was wrong and misled him to the operation. After the interview, the CEO's secretary from this Private Hospital called my cousin telling them that they are looking into the case and will revert in 3 to 4 weeks time.
Before they revert, I like to take this opportunity to seek advice from the public. What should my cousin do in this kind of situation? They do not have much money to engage a so called "Medical Lawyer" which will be a very costly and lengthy process. What kind of compensation (if any) will they demand from Private Hospital? This is not only the money that they spent on the hospital bills. It involves emotional stress, physical suffering and permanent scars (2 long lines of about 8cm each and a stitched up hole) in the stomach. Also left behind an unknown future side effects. Insurance companies may impose loading on her too.
Although my cousin and wife were happy to see that they are now having a healthy child, we have advised them to pursue the matter further. This may also happen to any one else and we should stop this kind of neligence in the hospital.
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