“This is a systemic failure, not just a personal tragedy,” said Pavithra, welcoming the verdict. She added that no compensation could truly make up for the irreversible harm to her child
Published Jul 30, 2025 | 5:53 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2025 | 9:48 AM
Infant in a hospital. Representational Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: In a landmark decision, the Chennai North District Consumer Commission has awarded ₹33.75 lakh to Dr U Pavithra after her newborn lost all five fingers on one hand due to medical negligence. Pavithra, a dentist, had been undergoing fertility treatment for PCOD at Srinivas Priya Hospital, Chennai. Despite a successful conception, the pregnancy ended in trauma following lapses in care
In a landmark ruling, the Chennai North District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a private hospital and a doctor to pay ₹33.75 lakh in compensation to a woman whose newborn son lost all five fingers on his right hand due to medical negligence.
Dr U Pavithra, a dentist, was under fertility treatment for over two years at Srinivas Priya Hospital in Perambur, Chennai, under the care of Dr Rajapriya Ayyapan.
After undergoing ovulation induction therapy for polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), she conceived successfully. However, what began as a promising pregnancy soon spiraled into a traumatic ordeal.
In March 2023, a routine anomaly scan revealed that Pavithra had a shortened cervix, indicating a 9 percent risk of preterm labour.
Based solely on this finding, Dr Ayyapan inserted a cervical pessary — a device used to prevent early delivery — without obtaining informed consent, the commission found.
Pavithra was not offered alternatives or time to consider the procedure, and key antenatal tests, including a glucose tolerance test, were reportedly skipped.
Soon after, Pavithra began experiencing bleeding and abdominal pain. Although she rushed back to the hospital, she was made to wait nearly two hours before receiving attention.
Over the following days, her symptoms worsened — but crucial blood test results were not shared with her, and she was prescribed medication that is contraindicated during pregnancy.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly. Labour was induced without adequate explanation, and her baby was delivered prematurely in a breech position, with multiple health complications, including a dangerously low heart rate and respiratory distress syndrome.
The infant was immediately transferred to a private hospital in Guindy, where doctors discovered digital gangrene had set in across all five fingers of his right hand — a result of severe infection and delays in care.
The newborn’s fingers eventually autoamputated, a condition where dead tissue detaches on its own — an outcome doctors described as irreversible.
After examining medical records and hearing testimonies, the consumer commission, led by President D Gopinath and members V Ramamurthy and Kavitha Kannan, found both Dr Ayyapan and Srinivas Priya Hospital guilty of “gross medical negligence” and “serious deficiency in service.”
However, a separate complaint against the Guindy hospital — which began treatment only after the complications — was dismissed.
The commission directed the doctor and the hospital to jointly pay ₹23.65 lakh as reimbursement for medical expenses and ₹10 lakh as compensation for the mental agony, pain, and trauma endured by the mother.
An additional ₹10,000 was awarded towards litigation costs. The total compensation amounts to ₹33.75 lakh.
“This is not just a personal tragedy but a systemic failure in ensuring basic standards of care,” said Pavithra, speaking to reporters after the verdict. She welcomed the ruling but said no amount could make up for what her child had lost.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sumit Jha)
