A Singapore mother and her daughter have lost a lawsuit against National University Hospital (NUH) and Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan (AMK-Thye Hua Kwan) Hospital, with the High Court dismissing their case on January 12 and ordering them to pay $975,403 in legal costs.
The case, brought by Parvaty Raju and her daughter Meenachi Suppiah, claimed that the hospitals were negligent in caring for Parvaty, whose health deteriorated following surgeries for pseudogout in her right knee and related foot complications.
Parvaty, who had multiple underlying conditions including diabetes and renal failure, was treated at NUH from September 2020 to January 2021 for knee pain and tissue damage in her heel. In January 2021, she was transferred to AMK-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital for observation. However, her condition worsened, and she developed wet gangrene, ultimately requiring leg amputation in February 2021. Parvaty passed away in 2023 from coronary artery disease and renal failure.
The lawsuit alleged that NUH staff failed to provide adequate care, allowed tissue damage to worsen, did not implement protective measures for her diabetic foot, and improperly transferred her while necrotic tissue remained. It also claimed that staff at AMK-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital contributed to the worsening condition.
In her judgment, Justice Mavis Chionh found no evidence of professional negligence. The court noted that NUH staff had considered Parvaty’s medical history and had taken preventive steps, such as using pressure-relieving mattresses. The gangrene was “dry” at the time of transfer, showing no signs of infection. The judge also deemed the recommendation for amputation reasonable and appropriate.
The High Court concluded that neither hospital had breached professional duties or acted negligently. Consequently, the plaintiffs were ordered to pay nearly $1 million in legal costs to the hospitals.
NUH said it respects the court’s decision and will continue providing high-quality, patient-centered care, while AMK-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital stated that there was no evidence their staff caused the deterioration of Parvaty’s foot.
