Court orders interim compensation to family of infant whose thumb was severed

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court also directed the government to shift the infant to a multi-speciality hospital where an attempt can be made to conduct a specialised surgery for the infant

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered an interim compensation of ₹75,000 to the family of an infant whose left hand thumb was cut off, while a staff nurse attempted to remove the paediatric venflon (cannula) at a Government Hospital in Thanjavur. Taking into account the horrific experience of the parents who had to see their child writhing in pain, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh observed that in cases of this nature the court had to necessarily apply the strict liability theory.