Negligence: Couple sue two public hospitals for daughter's death

A married couple on Sunday filed a RM10 million negligence suit against two public hospitals in Terengganu over the death of their four-year-old daughter two years ago.

Muhamad Sardi Saad, 39, and his wife Fadilah Abd Wahab, 45, from Besut, Terengganu filed the writ of summons at the High Court here through Syukran Noordin Advocates & Solicitors.

According to the writ of summons, both plaintiffs, who are teachers, claimed that at 9.30am on Dec 5, 2013, they brought their daughter, Ulya Insyirah, who was suffering from vomitting, to seek medical attention at the Emergency Unit of Besut Hospital.

They claimed that their daughter was given treatment and intravenous fluid which led to some complications and swelling in the girl's arm and body.

They said their daughter fell totally unconscious at 11pm that day and was rushed to Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) Hospital in Kuala Terengganu at 5am the following day (Dec 6).

Ulya Insyirah was pronounced dead due to "septicaemic with hypovoluemic shock" as she could not be saved following serious internal swelling.

Both plaintiffs claimed that they were mentally and emotionally distressed over the incident and are seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages totalling RM10 million.

They named five doctors at Besut Hospital - Dr Shairazi Azizi Mohd Salleh, Dr Mohd Ruhaifi Yusuf, Dr Norzaherawati Aryani Md Tahir, Dr Hasmani Hamat, Dr Muhammad Solehuddin Ishak - as well as Besut Hospital director, as the first to sixth defendants.

They also named three doctors at HSNZ - Dr Noor Ain Noor Afendi, Dr Sharifah Huda Engku Alwi, Datuk Dr Jimmy Lee Kok Foo - as well as HSNZ director and the Government of Malaysia as the seventh to 11th defendants.

Speaking to reporters, Fadilah said she and her husband filed the writ of summons as they could not bear the sadness, pain and trauma of unexpectedly losing their beloved daughter.

"We are still receiving mental and emotional therapy at the Psychological Department of Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian following the incident," said the teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tempurung, Besut.

The court set next Jan 17 for mention.