Man tries to sue hospital for £519 million after watching wife's C-section

18 September 2023 , 13:55

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The man tried to sue the hospital where his baby was born (Stock Image) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A man has claimed that he developed a "psychotic illness" after witnessing his wife give birth via C-section, and as a result, he tried to sue the hospital for a whopping $1billion (£519,406,578) in damages.

Anil Koppula was horrified when he saw his wife's blood and organs during the life-saving operation that helped her give birth safely - but ultimately, he wasn't happy, claiming the event eventually caused a "marriage breakdown."

The court papers state that Mr Koppula was "encouraged or permitted, to observe the delivery", and this meant as a result he saw more than he was comfortable with during the procedure, including his wife's "internal organs." He alleges that the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne owed him a "duty of care", and it was breached, meaning that he believes the hospital is "liable to pay him damages."

Mr Koppula, who represented himself in court, claimed the hospital should be liable for the damages. The Royal Women's Hospital understood and accepted it had a responsibility to provide a duty of care - but they denied it had been breached.

Justice James Gorton has since thrown the case out of court, according to the Herald Sun, referring to it as "an abuse of process." Koppula underwent a medical examination, and it was decided that the "degree of psychiatric impairment" did not "satisfy the threshold level" that is required to be paid damages. According to the judgement, damages for non-economic loss cannot be given unless someone has suffered a "significant injury." Justice Gorton also said that Mr Koppula was "unable, as a matter of law, to recover damages for non-economic loss."

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Mr Koppula didn't agree with the ruling - but he also did not request a review of the ruling. As a result of this, the hospital filed to request the legal proceedings be dismissed. According to the NHS, a C-Section may be recommended as a planned (elective) procedure or done in an emergency if it's thought a vaginal birth is too risky. Around one in four women who give birth do so via Caesarian, and the whole operation normally takes about 40 to 50 minutes.

Danielle Kate Wroe