Thiruvananthapuram : Nine-year-old Vinodini, whose right hand was amputated due to alleged medical negligence, will soon receive a prosthetic forearm and regain her smile.
Her family, from Palakkad, had been repeatedly appealing for help. Now, Kerala Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan has stepped in, offering financial support to get her a prosthetic hand fitted as soon as possible. “I was moved by her plight when I saw her story on TV. She’s such a bubbly and lively little girl. I called her father and promised to arrange a prosthetic hand for her. We will bear the full cost of fitting it, and I’ve instructed the concerned people to start the process today itself,” Satheeshan told the media.
The child’s parents, R. Vinod and Praseetha, are daily wage workers who have been struggling to arrange a prosthetic arm for the last couple of months. So far, the family has received a total of Rs 2 lakh. They had also brought the matter to the attention of the district administration. The parents are now relieved after receiving help from Satheeshan, and the girl, who once felt uncomfortable facing others at school, is now happy.
Alleged medical negligence
The tragic incident occurred on September 24, when Vinodini fell while playing at her home in Ozhivupara, Pallassana. She was first taken to Chittur Government Taluk Hospital for treatment, then referred to the Government District Hospital in Palakkad, where an X-ray was taken and her hand was plastered. A few days later, she began experiencing severe pain and discomfort. When she was taken back to the Palakkad hospital, the doctors prescribed pain relief medication, assuring it was normal, but her condition did not improve.
A few days later, the child’s condition took a turn for the worse, with the hand showing severe pain, discolouration, numbness, and blisters. Vinodini was admitted to the Government Medical College in Kozhikode for further treatment. Sadly, the child developed compartment syndrome, a serious complication caused by overly tight and improper bandaging. As the situation became critical, the hand had to be amputated, and two doctors were suspended for medical negligence.
