Indian-Origin Man In Australia Sues Hospital For “Psychotic Illness” After Wife’s C-Section

An Indian-origin man in Australia, Anil Koppula, has filed a lawsuit against the Royal Women’s Hospital, seeking $1 billion (approximately ₹5,000 crore) in damages. He claims that he developed a “psychotic illness” after witnessing his wife’s C-section birth at the hospital in January 2018. Koppula alleges that he was encouraged or permitted by the hospital to observe the surgical birth process, which exposed him to seeing his wife’s internal organs and blood, triggering his mental health condition.

In his lawsuit, Koppula argues that the hospital breached its duty of care toward him, leading to the breakdown of his marriage as a result of the traumatic experience. Caesarean sections, or C-sections, are performed for various medical reasons, prioritizing the safety of the mother and baby. They involve surgically delivering the baby through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus.

However, on Monday, the Supreme Court in Victoria dismissed Koppula’s claim, labeling it an “abuse of process.” The hospital maintained that it had not breached its duty of care, and the court ruled that Koppula did not suffer any significant injury due to the observed operation. The judge in Australia determined that Koppula’s alleged illness did not meet the threshold for a “serious injury,” and as a result, he is not entitled to damages.