Former Bank Simpanan Nasional senior analyst Roslan Mohd Ali, 47, was today awarded damages by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, which allowed his claim for medical negligence from Pusrawi Hospital and three of its doctors after a surgery on him went wrong.

Justice Abdul Wahab Patail, now a Court of Appeal judge, allowed Roslan's claim.

He also ordered the hospital and the three doctors to pay costs of RM20,000 each. Justice Abdul Wahab also ordered the deputy registrar to assess damages.

Four witnesses for the plaintiff and four more for the defendants testified.

NONE Roslan's wife, Rosemah Ibrahim ( right ), 47, was elated with the decision.

She thanked their lawyer Cheow Wee for helping them with the case.

Roslan had filed the suit on Feb 2, 2007, claiming negligence on the part of the hospital after a routine slipped disc surgery went wrong, resulting in brain damage.

The injury put Roslan into a coma for five months. He is now bedridden.

Besides Pusrawi Hospital, Roslan also named anaesthetist Dr Ainy Md Aris, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mohd Ismail Maulud and orthopaedic and trauma specialist Dr Didi Indra Tjahya as defendants.

Roslan said in his statement of claim that he underwent surgery, which was to last for two hours on Sept 1, 2006.

However due to negligence by the doctors, either collectively or individually, an endotracheal tube supplying him with oxygen was dislodged when his position was adjusted. This resulted in the oxygen supply being cut off.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) test performed on Roslan after the operation confirmed that he had suffered brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation. He was warded in the intensive care unit for 22 days.

Roslan claimed that as a result of the negligence, he suffered brain damage and needed constant care at home.

He had sought RM500,000 in exemplary and punitive damages and special damages, along with RM5,687 a month for loss of earnings and interest at four per percent a year.