I know of a case, that my firm is handling. By just reading the file brings tears to my eyes.
(Names have been changed due to the Professional Confidentiality Clause)
Madam Mary Kerry is working as an Amah in one of the Government Hospitals. Her Husband, Mr Terry Ronald is an ambulance driver in the same hospital. They stay in a Government owned quarter. Mr and Mrs Terry Ronald are uneducated and poor indians. And if you are Malaysian, you know how these people would not have been noticed by anyone, including you. Well, being poor, Madam Mary had her baby born in the same hospital too.
She is a lady of high risk pregnancy. She has Diabetes Mellitus. For the benefit of those who don’t appreciate this, when a lady is of a high risk pregnancy, every single minute of her labour has to be monitored and planned way in advance. Otherwise, it can caused significant birth defects. Madam Mary, being treated by Doctors who probably don’t think she is worthy of proper treatment did not planned it well. The baby came out severely brain damaged, quadraplegic.
Let me explain the condition of the baby. He is four years old now. He can’t walk, partially blind, can’t put his head up, spastic, gets sick whenever he takes a cold shower… the list goes on. He will never recover. He will live the rest of his life 100% dependant on people. He would not be able to tell which part of the body he is feeling the pain. He throws tantrums when he is in a confined place. He cannot recognise his name.
As you would know, brain damaged babies are expensive. They need special food, special toys, special milk, special equipment, etc. Of course, he would need medical treatment every now and then. He goes for physiotherapy and neurology follow up with various hospitals every fortnight.
Are these enough? Definitely not. The parents cannot afford a wheelchair. They carry him whereever they bring him. Ideally, he needs occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation treatment, special nutrition, special tutors, etc. He is not getting those. The Government Quarter is some sort of an apartment that does not have elevator, they have to carry baby Thomas up and down the 2nd floor. He is getting heavier.
The parents have brought a suit against the Government. And after waiting for a good three years, the Government admitted liability, which means we only fight on quantum. Still fighting, mind you.
The parents are living on the edge. They have spent all their savings they saved to buy a house, on baby Thomas Ronald. The Counsels for the Government are being very difficult and have been delaying proceedings. This is typical for Defense Counsels.
Madam Mary Kerry has ovarian cancer and is undergoing Chemotherapy. She is the only one that cares for Baby Thomas. They have a maid that demands substantially. You cannot blame her, as she isn’t a trained nurse/maid to take care of a special child.
Madam Mary’s life is entirely disrupted. She cannot attend wedding or family functions. She does not have any friends. The baby is now in the Intensive Care Unit as he is down with a high fever.
To add icing onto the cake, Mr Terry Ronald has another family outside. He doesnt care about her or the baby, just the money that is coming in. If Madam Mary drops dead, nobody will be able to take care of baby Thomas.
She still works in the same hospital, facing the very Obstetric and Gynaecology team that managed her pregnancy. Imagine facing the people that caused your only child to be brain damaged. And still, they do not acknowledge her. They treat her as though she is invisible, that she don’t exist.
Do I need to say more of how Indian people are being discriminated? And they slapped the HINDRAF leaders with ISA charges?
We live in a great country. Just great.
