Indian-origin man tries to sue hospital for $643 million after watching wife's C-section

C-section birthing rates are on the rise globally, now accounting for around one in every three births in the United States. (Representational image)

An Indian-origin man in Australia tried to sue a hospital after watching his wife undergo a C-section, or Cesarean-section, to birth their baby over five years ago. Anil Koppula alleged that he was “encouraged” or “permitted” by the Melbourne hospital to observe the surgical birthing process, and that, seeing his wife’s internal organs and blood caused the onset of a “psychotic illness”.

Anil Koppula, who was self-represented in court, claimed damages of $643 million (over Rs 5,000 crore) for “psychological injury” in October last year. The damages claimed were only for “non-economic loss”, he had said.
Koppula had witnessed his child’s birth via C-section in January 2018.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of Victoria dismissed Koppula’s claim, terming it an “abuse of process”, Australian news outlet 7News reported.

The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne stood its ground and did not accept that the man suffered any injury. The hospital said that it owed to him a duty of care but denied that it breached it.

In documents and reports submitted in court, Koppula tried to convey the impact his illness had on him, including how it led to the breakdown of his marriage. The documents, however, he did not articulate or quantify any claim for loss of earning capacity or for the cost of medical treatment.

C-section birthing rates are on the rise globally, now accounting for around one in every three births in the United States, though the World Health Organization estimates only 10-15 percent are medically necessary. A C-section surgery is performed when there is a medical complication, to protect the baby and/or the mother.