Gov't settles with woman who had left breast mistakenly removed

IPOH - A housewife, who had her left breast removed by mistake, has reached an out-of-court settlement against the Government.

T. Silvarany, 56, agreed to a settlement of RM100,000 in a RM2mil suit filed against Dr L. Vasu Pillai, the Raja Permaisuri Bainun hospital director, the Health Minister and the Government in 2008.


Judicial Commissioner Tarmizi Abd Rahman recorded the matter at the Ipoh High Court on Monday.

In her statement of claim, Silvarany said she had sought treatment for a stomach ailment in 2005, which was later diagnosed as a fibroid.

While the fibroid was removed, a biopsy on a lump in her breast found it (the lump) to be cancerous.
The mother of two was subsequently re-admitted on Sept 6 2005 where an operation to remove her breast was carried out on Sept 7.

"It was during a follow-up treatment where the hospital's specialist told me the operation to remove my breast was a mistake and I was not suffering from cancer," she said in her statement.

"I am satisfied with the amount," Silvarany said when asked if she was happy with the settlement.

Senior Federal Counsel Khairul Fazley Kamarudin appeared for the Government.