Board of Korle-Bu and doctors sued for negligence

Accra, May 4, GNA - A 14-year-old student who is unable to use his limb after a surgical operation at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has filed a suit against the Hospital's Board and three doctors at an Accra Fast Track High Court for negligence.

Master Frank Darko, who just completed his Basic Education Certificate Examination, is seeking general damages of 800 million cedis for negligence and loss of use of limb.

He is further asking for special damages for cost of treatment, drugs and transportation estimated at 9.44 million cedis. The doctors were identified as Dr Addo Kennedy; Dr Korpisah and Dr Agbeko.

The Plaintiff said in May 2005, he had pains in his right knee and reported to the Hospital for treatment.

According to Darko, who said he was an aspiring footballer, his aliment was duly diagnosed as "Torn Patelia Ligament" by one Dr Larnyoh, now deceased, of the same Hospital.

The Master Darko said after several drugs were administered unto him over a period of three months, Dr Larnyoh and the defendants decided that his right knee should be operated upon.

On September 13, 2005, the team of doctors led by Dr Larnyoh and the defendants conducted the operation.

Plaintiff said instead of operating his right knee, which they (defendants) had prepared, the left knee was rather operated upon. "This has left to a deformity of the left knee and leg." The Plaintiff observed that the defendants had been extremely negligent and reckless when they attended to him. According to Master Darko, the defendants breached their duty of giving professional care to him.

He further stated that his father suffered from cardiac arrest and died as a result of the Defendants' negligence. He said he was also still paying for all the cost of treatment whenever he attended hospital adding he was unable to walk properly and could not go to school without the aid of crutches. Furthermore, Defendants had treated a letter written to them by his Lawyer with contempt in his bid to seek redress.