Man Sues Hopital After Watching Wife’s C-section: “It Gave Me Psychotic Illness And Caused Breakdown Of My Marriage”
Anil Koppula, an Indian-origin man in Australia has sued a hospital for $1 billion Australian dollars (642 million USD), claiming to develop a “psychotic illness” after he watched his wife”s C-section (caesarean). The lawsuit was filed against Royal Women”s Hospital in Melbourne.
Mr. Koppula”s wife gave birth via C-section in January 2018. In his lawsuit against the hospital, Mr. Koppula alleged he developed a “psychotic illness” as he watched his wife”s internal organs and blood as the hospital “encouraged” and “permitted” him to watch the surgical process of the birth of his baby.
“Mr. Koppula alleges that he was encouraged, or permitted, to observe the delivery, that in the course of doing so, he saw his wife”s internal organs and blood…He says that the Hospital breached a duty of care it owed to him and is liable to pay him damages”, reads the document filed to support Mr. Koppula”s lawsuit, as per a report.
During the court hearing, Mr. Koppula also added that in addition to the “psychotic illness”, watching the C-section has also caused the “breakdown of his marriage”.
As per reports, the Supreme Court in Victoria dismissed Mr. Koppula”s claim. The Australian judge, Justice James Gorton observed that as Mr. Koppula did not went under any economic loss and his said illness does not meet the line of “serious injury”, the Hospital does not owe Mr. Koppula anything. Mr. Koppula”s allegations were observed as “abuse of process”.
C-section is a surgical method of birthing. An incision is made in the mother”s abdomen and uterus in this process. It is usually practiced for several reasons including the variation in baby”s heart rate, abnormal foetal positions, infections, if the baby is large sized or if there are more than one baby. The C-section is only practised if it is safe for both the baby and mother. Practising a caesarean section can cause the risk of infection, bleeding, blood clotting and injury to the bladder. There were also rare cases of surgical instruments getting trapped inside the mother”s belly.
