Anil Koppula of Australia lost a lawsuit against a hospital in which he claimed the facility failed to prevent him from watching his wife’s C-section, resulting in psychiatric damage as a result of the horrific incident.
Despite his voluntary offer to be present, Koppula claims that the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne owed him a duty of care to keep him from witnessing the C-section procedure. He was permitted into the operating room for the procedure in January 2018, where he saw his wife’s internal organs and blood.
Years later, Koppula sued the hospital, demanding AU$1 billion in damages for the psychological injury he claimed he experienced as a result of watching the surgical procedure. He also claimed that his marriage had failed as a result of his mental illness, which he blamed on the hospital’s inability to fulfill its duty of care to him.
Koppula claimed in his court claim that he was urged or allowed to observe the delivery and that the hospital breached its duty of care, making it liable for damages.
In its defense, the Royal Women’s Hospital agreed that it owed Koppula a duty of care but claimed that it had not breached that duty. According to the hospital, ladies are usually allowed to have their spouses or other family members attend them during a C-section for emotional support. These relatives, however, are encouraged not to meddle in any way with the procedure and are told of the specifics of the operation before choosing to observe it.
Koppula got a medical assessment to examine the psychological impact of the C-section he had witnessed. According to the medical examination report, the degree of psychiatric impairment caused by the harm stated in the claim did not satisfy the threshold level.
Despite his rejection of the medical report, Koppula did not apply for a review, prompting the Royal Women’s Hospital to ask the Supreme Court of Victoria to dismiss the case, which it did.
The story emphasizes the need for individuals to assess their own emotional and psychological preparation to watch medical procedures such as C-sections and accept responsibility for their own well-being in such circumstances.
