Lawyer: I got hepatitis C at medical centre

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer, who is suing a cardiologist and Pantai Medical Centre for RM28 million, said he contracted incurable hepatitis C from a blood transfusion.
P. Paramanathan, 46, testifying in his suit against Dr Kenneth Chin and Hospital Pantai Bhd at the High Court yesterday, said he was admitted with a heart ailment and was given the blood transfusion.
"I got hepatitis C as a result of a blood transfusion at the Pantai Medical Centre in 1996 following an angioplasty. Dr Chin told me the blood transfusion was necessary because I was bleeding after the procedure," he said.
Paramanathan, who was emotional and broke down during his testimony, said according to specialists there were three ways to contract hepatitis C: As a drug user, having multiple sex partners and through blood transfusion.
"I am not a drug user and neither did I have multiple sex partners. The only blood transfusion that I had in my life was at Pantai Medical Centre," he said, replying to questions from his counsel S.G. Lingam.
Paramanathan filed his statement of claim on Sept 7, 2000 and is seeking RM17 million in general damages, special damages of RM1.141 million for future medical expenses and also RM250,000 for the cost of a liver transplant, if it becomes necessary to do so. He is also seeking RM10 million in aggravated and exemplary damages.
Paramanathan’s ordeal began on March 10, 1996, when he was admitted to the Pantai Medical Centre with chest pains.
An angiogram done by Dr Chin revealed that he had several blocked arteries and he needed an angioplasty. However, after the operation, Dr Chin told him he was bleeding and recommended a blood transfusion. The nurses at PMC transfused a pint of blood to Paramanathan and after it was completed he developed red spots on his face and arms and his body ached. He was discharged on March 18, 1996. Paramanathan had a follow-up visit in May, where blood tests showed his liver was infected.
On June 18, 1996, Paramanathan had a second angioplasty performed by Dr Chin which was not successful, resulting in the cardiologist recommending open-heart surgery.
Paramanathan sought a second opinion from the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, where physicians concurred that open-heart surgery was the only choice.
"When cardiologist Datuk Dr Rozali Wathooth visited me on the night of June 27, 1996, he informed me that my liver enzyme reading was high and he referred me to gastroenterologist Dr Yin Thing Phee who confirmed that I had hepatitis C," he said.
Asked by Lingam how contracting hepatitis C had changed his lifestyle, Paramanathan said doctors had described it as a "time bomb".
"The virus may be low but the damage is always ongoing. I am depressed. I have been advised not to share items such as razors and toothbrushes," he said.
He said after the open-heart surgery, he got married and had two children, and they all had to be constantly tested for hepatitis C. "I am always afraid of infecting my wife, my children and other family members."
Paramanathan said he wrote to the Malaysian Medical Association and the Health Ministry about the matter but the parties were evasive and non-committal, indicating they did not want to get involved.
Counsel Robert Lazar represented Dr Chin, while counsel Sunder Kalasi represented Pantai Medical Centre. Hearing before judge Noor Azian Shaari continues.