Kerala HC orders medical aid, free education to 9-year-old girl after alleged hospital negligence

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to provide long-term medical care and free education to a nine-year-old girl whose right hand had to be amputated following alleged medical negligence at the government district hospital, Palakkad

The court ordered the state government to cover the child’s medical expenses and educational costs until she turns 21. The bench observed that the girl, who comes from a financially backward family, was a victim of serious medical negligence during treatment at the district hospital in Palakkad. She had initially been brought to the hospital after suffering two fractures in her hand. 

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According to a report by The Hindu, the order was passed by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. The court also directed the state government to strictly implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fracture management, particularly in paediatric cases.

The court was hearing a petition filed by P. D. Joseph, which stated that the girl was brought to the Palakkad district hospital in September 2025 after sustaining fractures in her hand. Instead of performing surgery or conducting a detailed evaluation, a plaster cast was reportedly applied, and the child was discharged from the hospital.

The petition further alleged that the injury developed complications, including infection and bleeding from the fractured hand. It was claimed that no medication was provided to control the bleeding during that period.

The child was later taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, for further treatment. By then, the infection had spread extensively, and doctors had to amputate her right hand.

In the petition, Joseph argued that the amputation could have been avoided if the child had been properly monitored and managed at the district hospital after the initial fracture treatment. After hearing the matter, the High Court directed the state government to ensure continued support for the child and disposed of the petition, emphasising the need for strict adherence to fracture treatment protocols.

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