Priya R, a 17-year-old football player who underwent surgery to treat a ligament tear in her knee, died on Tuesday morning as a result of multiple organ failure caused by medical negligence.
Priya, daughter of Ravikumar from Vyasarpadi, Chennai, has been playing football since childhood. She comes from a poor family and is pursuing her degree at Ranimary College in Chennai. She has competed in district and state level football competitions.
Priya’s right leg had a muscle strain recently during football practise. Due to the immense pain, an examination was performed, and it was found that Priya had a ligament tear. Following this, on November 7th, an operation was performed at Perambur Periyar Nagar Government Suburban Hospital. Even after the operation, the pain persisted and the foot swelled. Priya was then transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital for further treatment, where she was receiving intensive care.
On examination, it was revealed that the blood flow to her right leg was obstructed because of the tightly bound band by doctors after the ligament surgery. The doctors at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital advised that the leg be amputated because all of the muscles in the leg were rotting. Priya’s parents agreed to have her legs amputated to save her life. Following amputation, she was treated in the intensive care unit by a medical team that included a vascular specialist and an orthopaedic surgeon.
However, Priya died tragically on Tuesday morning at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai, after her health deteriorated due to multiple organ failure. 2 doctors from orthopedics department have already been suspended for medical negligence.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu state BJP chief Annamalai tweeted, “I’m shocked to know footballer Priya died during wrong treatment. I express my condolences to the family. Every department is destroyed in this DMK regime. It is disappointing that the medical department has joined that list. The government should suspend both doctors, provide a government job for a family member and grant a solatium of 2 crore rupees.”
The ruling DMK government has also announced a ₹10 lakh compensation for the family. An FIR has been filed against two doctors at the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital in Kolathur in connection with the botched surgery that resulted in Priya’s death.
(with inputs from Asianet News)
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