Fuvahmulah family prepares to sue hospital over 5-year-old’s death

The Fuvahmulah family that lost their five-year-old daughter last year has decided to sue the local hospital for wrongful death.

Sadha Saudhulla, 5, died at the Fuvahmulah Hospital on October 3, 2021, after she was taken to the hospital when began experiencing stomach pain and vomiting.

Her family alleges she was administered the wrong injection, resulting in her death.

The family had reported the case to Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM), which concluded they had the right to seek compensation for wrongful death.

The family is being represented by Mariyam Shunana, founder of Public Interest Law Center (PILC).

Shunana told Sun on Thursday morning that PILC was preparing to file the lawsuit.

“We have filed a request with the Medical Council for Sadha’s death report. We hope to get a response soon,” she said.

Shunana said that they expected to complete research work, get the necessary paperwork, and file the lawsuit around June 15.

“There is a lot of work to be done in such cases. Medical expert evidence plays an important role,” she said.

Shunana complained of lack of cooperation from the Medical Council in such cases. She said that the delay in filing the lawsuit was due to lack of response from the Medical Council, and that she had yet to receive a response to letters she filed as far back as two years ago.

Shunana said that she planned to file the lawsuit even if she failed to get the death certificate.

In a letter to Sadha’s father, Saudhulla Hassan, HRCM wrote that that the Medical Council had revoked license issued to two doctors found to have been negligent in the case. HRCM said that they also found Sadha had been treated without properly looking into her medical history, and that there had been delays treatment.