The Kerala Government announced to give Rs 3 Lakhs on September 25, as compensation to women who underwent chemotherapy based on false reports. This came months after a 38-year-old woman, Rajni, from Kerala’s Alappuzha district underwent chemotherapy without suffering from cancer.
The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The amount would be released from the Chief Minister’s distress relief fund, a press release from the Chief Minister’s office read.
The medical expenses that the woman had to bear for undergoing chemotherapy, the health issues and the mental trauma suffered by her were important factors in deciding on the compensation to the 38-year-old woman.
Early this year in June, Rajini filed a complaint with the state Health Minister KK Shylaja, following which the government initiated a probe into the incident.
It all began when she sought treatment at the Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kottayam for growth in her right breast. However, a biopsy conducted in a private lab claimed that she is suffering from cancer after which she was sent for chemotherapy by the Kottayam MCH officials.
After a single session of chemotherapy, she lost her hair completely. This is when the doctors realised there was something wrong about her treatment.
Rajini underwent the first round of chemotherapy on March 19 and the reports came out on March 27 – stating that the growth wasn’t malignant.
According to reports, she had lodged a complaint with the MCH superintendent and an inquiry was conducted into the matter, which proved that she did not have any cancerous growth, which was later also confirmed by the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
Meanwhile, her growth was removed in May this year through surgery.
“I’m happy that the government has decided to help me with financial compensation but what I need the most now is a job,” Rajni told The News Minute.
Later, Rajni had sent a petition to the Kerala Chief Minister and the state Health Minister requesting for a job. “They have not said anything about that yet,” Rajni said.
