Tamil Nadu: Budding Footballer Priya Dies Due To Medical Negligence In Government Hospital

R Priya, a 17-year-old football player from Chennai, died in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGH) from multiple organ failure.

The death has been attributed to medical negligence.

She was admitted to RGGH due to complications after a botched arthroscopy surgery to repair a torn ligament in her right knee in the government’s Periyar Hospital near her home.

Priya complained of pain in her legs after the initial surgery, and she was prescribed a tight compression bandage and medicines.

Later, a blood clot in her leg was suspected, so she was shifted to RGGH. The doctors at RGGH said that her leg would need to be amputated as all the tissues in her right leg were dead.

Her condition did not improve even after amputation, so she had to undergo a follow-up surgery. After that, she was put on sedation and provided a ventilator.

However, she passed away the following day after the surgery.

Health Minister M A Subramanian admitted that it was a case of medical negligence and said that the two doctors of Periyar Hospital who performed her initial surgery have been suspended and legal action would be taken against them.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai expressed shock at the incident and said that every government department under the incompetent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) regime is being destroyed.

He expressed his condolences to the family and asked the government to grant a compensation of Rs 2 crore and a government job to one of her family members.

Chief Minister M K Stalin had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to one of her family members.