Man is trying to sue Melbourne hospital after seeing his wife’s caesarean section lead to the breakdown of his marriage
A father has tried to sue a hospital after claiming that watching his wife give birth via caesarean section caused him mental problems.
Anil Koppula took legal action against Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital, seeking $1 billion in damages after witnessing his wife’s caesarean section in 2018.
He said he developed a “psychotic illness” after seeing his wife’s blood and organs, and that watching the procedure led to “the breakdown of his marriage.”
A father has tried to sue a hospital after claiming that watching his wife give birth via caesarean section caused him mental problems.
‘Mr Koppula claims that he was encouraged or allowed to observe the birth, that in doing so he saw his wife’s internal organs and blood… He says the hospital breached a duty of care it owed to him and liable to pay him damages,” the court papers said.
Mr Koppula, who represented himself in court, claimed the hospital should be liable for $1 billion in damages.
The Royal Women’s Hospital acknowledged its responsibility to provide a duty of care but denied breaching it.
Judge James Gorton dismissed the lawsuit on Tuesday, calling it an “abuse of process.” reports the Herald Sun.
According to the ruling, the law does not allow someone to receive compensation for non-economic losses unless the injury is “significant injury.”
Koppula underwent a medical examination and a panel determined that “the degree of psychiatric disturbance resulting from the plaintiff’s injuries stated in the claim does not meet the threshold.”
He disagreed with the panel’s decision, but he chose not to request a review of their ruling.
The hospital subsequently submitted a request to dismiss the legal proceedings.
“I am therefore satisfied that the legal consequence of the Medical Panel’s finding is that Mr Koppula is simply unable, as a matter of law, to recover damages for non-economic losses,” Judge Gorton said.
A caesarean section is a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdominal wall and uterus. This surgical method is usually performed when a vaginal delivery is considered unsafe or not possible.
C-sections are usually performed under anesthesia and the surgeon makes an incision through the abdominal muscles and uterus to deliver the baby.
Man claimed he suffered from a ‘psychotic illness’ after watching the birth of his child and demanded $1 billion in damages
The hospital denied that they had caused the man significant psychological distress, but acknowledged that a proper duty of care had not been met
When a woman has a C-section, some fathers may find it uncomfortable to watch the process, according to health care company Banner Health, which is not connected to the lawsuit.
“Although rare, some dads can still feel a little nauseous even if they can’t see what’s happening,” Karleen Lee, an RN supervisor at Banner Health, said on the company’s website.
‘Remember not to jump out of your chair too quickly and let the anesthetist or operating team know if you feel faint.
“They have ways to help fathers, either through conversation as a distraction or with an ammonia inhaler or smelling salts to prevent fainting.”