Family sues doctor, Health Ministry over woman’s death

A MAN and his four children have filed a lawsuit for medical negligence against a doctor, the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) and the Ministry of Health, over the death of the man’s wife at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) three years ago. Yvette Richardson, 32, of Buenos Ayres in Point Fortin, died at the SFGH on August 14 2001, while receiving a blood transfusion after undergoing surgery for a second time.

The second operation was an effort to stop major haemorrhaging, which followed the first operation to remove Richardson’s womb (hysterectomy). Richardson’s husband Clifford filed the lawsuit in the San Fernando High Court Sub-Registry and has named Dr Krishna Rampersadsingh as the first defendant in the action. The SWRHA and the Ministry of Health were named as second and third defendants. The lawsuit was filed last week by attorney Quincy Marshall of Integrity Chambers. In the lawsuit, Richardson’s children — Curleen, 24, Carleen, 23, Carla, 18, and Clifton Jnr, 12, were named as plaintiffs along with their father Clifford. Rampersadsingh is a registrar at the SFGH Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and according to the writ, was acting as consultant when he operated on Richardson.

The writ stated that Richardson (Yvette), a patient on Ward 15, was operated on by Rampersadsingh on Monday August 14. Her womb was removed in the hospital’s operating theatre. The writ also stated that on the morning of August 15, Richardson’s stomach started swelling and she experienced severe pain, and was diagnosed with internal bleeding. The suit stated that Rampersadsingh reopened the woman’s stomach walls in the theatre, and removed clotted blood. However, while receiving a blood transfusion, the writ stated, Yvette went into cardiac arrest and died. The lawsuit contends Rampersadsingh failed to perform the first and second operation of the blood transfusion with reasonable care and skill. It also stated the doctor was negligent with regard to the operation, which caused the death of the patient. The Richardson family is claiming damages and compensation.