Former national athlete's negligence suit dismissed

Former national junior athlete Nor Azleen Mohammad Mustafa has failed in her negligence suit against Dr Omar Md Isa of Universiti Malaya Medical Faculty's Orthopaedic Department and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

Penang High Court judge Nurmala Salim dismissed the suit with costs.

In her judgement, Nurmala said the plaintiff had failed to prove that Dr Omar had been negligent when peforming surgery on her.

"Although the letter of authorisation for the surgery which wwas signed by the plaintiff's next of kin had not stated the risks involved, there had been reasonable discussions between both parties before it was signed," she said.

Nor Azleen, who was represented by lawyer N. Ahilan, had sued the two parties after suffering nerve damage, which caused her to be paralysed from the waist down and undergo prolonged physiotherapy, following spinal sugery conducted by the doctor at the medical centre on Sept 3, 2005.

She had sought RM3 million in damages, interest, cost and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Outside the court, Ahilan told reporters that they would be appealing the decision.

Dr Omar and UMMC were reprsented by lawyer Sharmini Navaratnam from the law firm Siva Dharma & Associates.