HC orders relief to kin of woman in coma

MADURAI: The District Collector of Kanyakumari was directed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Monday to grant an interim relief of Rs 50,000 to the family of a woman, who is in a state of coma, after a family planning operation went gravely wrong.The Bench also directed authorities of the Government Rajaji Hospital to continue treating her, and the District Collector to provide accommodation for the woman’s husband and children in Madurai. Ganesan, of Sembankarai, near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district, had admitted his wife Rukmani (37) to the Nagercoil government hospital for family planning operation. The surgery was performed on March 19, 2011 where she was administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen.Later, Rukmani went into coma. Meanwhile, Ganesan filed a writ plea seeking action against the doctors. Justice R Sudhakar, before whom the petition came up, directed a team of neurologists from Chennai to examine Rukmani. The team from Chennai examined Rukmani and submitted their report to the Bench. After perusing the report, the judge directed the Kanyakumari Collector to grant an interim relief of  Rs 50,000 to Rukmani’s family before July 18.Meanwhile, the district unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) staged a demonstration in front of the Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital (KGMCH) in Aasaripallam near Nagercoil on Monday, demanding immediate action against those responsible for Rukmani’s present condition.