Armless girl awaits an uncertain future

By Pushpakumara Jayaratna

Three months after an alleged medical misadventure led to the amputation of 14-month-old Sevmini of Galagedara, the family still awaits any form of compensation amidst fears for the future of the child.

Sevmini after amputation of the left arm with her parents .

The infant was so unfortunate that an alleged medical misadventure caused her to lose her left hand which had to be amputated. She was admitted to the Kandy hospital with a history of phlegm from her infancy. But an allegedly improper administration of a dose by the nurse, made Sevmini lose her arm as a consequence.

The amputation was done after she was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital. Surgery in this connection was carried out on October 19 last year when Sevmini was just 14 months old. This amputation made headlines in the local press and became a controversial topic at that time. At that time health authorities assured that those responsible for the callous mistake would be dealt with. But as usual it remains an unfulfilled promise.

39-year-old U.G. Dayananda, the little girl’s father, is himself partly handicapped, having fallen from a tree resulting in him having to forego a leg. He was a labourer and had no fixed income. His wife is 35-year-old Asoka Padmalatha and they live in a little house belonging to his brother. Helpless as they are there was nothing the duo could do in terms of taking action against the medical misadventure due to alleged wrong administration of a drug.

The family now have fears as to what would be the future of their armless daughter. National Hospital Director Dr. (Mrs.) Rani Fernando had this to say.

“The girl would one day need an artificial arm, which is an expensive item. As her parents are poor and cannot afford that luxury, the state or some charitable organisation will have to come to her aid. As she is still growing an artificial arm that would cost around a million rupees will have to be fixed only after she is 18.

The child’s father says he would spare no pains to make sure that his little daughter’s future is ensured by appealing to everyone to get the money required. He has already made representations to the President’s Fund, contacted the Health
Minister and his secretary, the Director of Health and others in a bid to overcome the difficulty.

In his reply the President’s Assistant Secretary had stated instructions had been given for an inquiry to be held and necessary compensation paid to the victim.

Already the Director General of Health, has requested that the infant’s parents be summoned to Colombo and asked as to what amount they expect as compensation.

Dayananda has said that he is unable to make an assessment as the loss is irreparable and that by the time the arm is attached its cost would be several times the present value.

As nothing has come so far by way of compensation and as no inquiry has yet been held, he had written to the President’s Secretary on the matter. The reply was that an inquiry would be held and action taken to give compensation.

As the fixing of an artificial arm would take long, the girl has been told to undergo exercises at the Kurunegala hospital as many as 8 times a month, and once each at the Ragama and the Colombo General Hospital.

Dayananda detailed the extent of hardship he and his wife had to undergo due to the present situation. In the meantime he expects donors to come to his aid.The account number is 209 601582 4 Isuru Udana children’s account at the Galagedara branch of the People’s Bank.