Student sues hospital over blindness

Seeking justice: Nur Laila (centre) being accompanied by Md Yusuff and Rozita.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student has filed a negligence suit against the director of Dungun Hospital in Terengganu and two others over the loss of her eyesight.

Nur Laila Md Yusoff, 21, claimed that she registered at Dungun Hospital on Nov 13 last year, seeking outpatient treatment for a fever.

She said she was examined by medical officer Dr Tan Kian Kheng, who later diagnosed her as having “upper respiratory tract infection with bilateral conjunctivitis”.

Nur Laila, who is taking up a diploma in public administration, claimed that Dr Tan had asked her whether she had any allergic reaction to certain medicines and she informed the medical officer that she had no knowledge about it.

Nur Laila alleged that she was prescribed six types of medicine which included an eye drop.

When she boarded a bus to go back to her parents’ house in Rawang on the same day, she discovered that her condition had worsened with an increase in body temperature, rashes and burn marks on her body.

She said her parents thought she had chicken pox that could be treated at home but when her condition deteriorated, she went to Sungai Buloh Hospital on Nov 18 and was informed that she suffered from “toxic epidermal nevrolysis”.

Nur Laila alleged that the allergic reaction severely affected the function of both of her eyes which later led to the removal of her right eye.

Nur Laila said the doctor had failed to inform her of the hidden risks of the prescription and also failed to give an alternative which was safe.

She said Dr Tan also failed to provide her a test dose and supervise her on whether she had allergic reaction against the medicine given.

Nur Laila, who is the second of three siblings, filed the suit at the Sessions Court registry via Messr T. Vijay & Co yesterday.

She was accompanied by her father Md Yusoff Abd Kadir, 52, her mother Rozita Hasan, 46, and lawyer T. Vijayandran. In her suit which was filed yesterday, Nur Laila named the director, Dr Tan and the Government as the defendants. She is seeking interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.