Woman sues gynae over childbirth injury that impacted marital, social, professional life

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SINGAPORE - A 32-year-old woman has sued her former obstetrician and gynaecologist over an injury she suffered during childbirth in 2020, alleging that his negligence had impacted her marital, social, and professional life.

The woman is seeking unspecified damages from Dr Khoo Chong Kiat, who practises at CK Khoo Clinic for Women & Laparoscopy. She was working in the funeral business when she had her baby and is now a housewife. Her identity is not disclosed in this story for her privacy.

The trial opened in the High Court on Feb 4.

The woman, a first-time mother, had a healthy baby girl via vaginal birth on May 3, 2020.

Her medical negligence suit, filed in April 2023, levied a host of allegations against the doctor over his treatment of a tear in the tissue wall separating the vagina and the rectum that she suffered during childbirth.

The tear led to a rectovaginal fistula, an abnormal connection that allows bowel contents to pass through the vagina. It also caused inflammation and infection in the area.

The woman alleged that Dr Khoo did not inform her of the tear before he stitched her up in the delivery suite.

She alleged that he also did not inform her that she had the option of consulting a colorectal surgeon before he repaired the tear.

For many months after childbirth, she passed faecal matter through her vagina and period blood through her anus.

The woman also said she suffered postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, including mother-infant bonding difficulties.

She can no longer give birth naturally, and has “impaired libido and interference in her sexual life”, she added.

She has also had a “change of perspective regarding children, affecting the enjoyment of children” as well as a change of personality and a change in her quality of life, she alleged.

Her lawyer, Mr Cumara Kamalacumar, said in his opening statement that it will be shown at trial that the doctor’s conduct had caused his client’s injuries.

He added that the tear would not have occurred if Dr Khoo had carried out an emergency caesarean section.

But the defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Kuah Boon Theng, said the evidence will show that the medical care and treatment provided to the woman was at all times appropriate and consistent with acceptable standards of care.

The fact that the tear subsequently broke down and resulted in a fistula was not due to any negligence on the doctor’s part, she said.

Ms Kuah said Dr K...

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