E.V. KESAVAN NAMBOODIRI Vs. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It is the need of hour to start a national cochlear implants registry to monitor Cochlear implant cases and to study clinical outcomes. Also revamp the guidelines to scale up cochlear implants procedure in a holistic way and to ensure post-surgery follow-up and functioning of the implant, The Central and the State governments need to curtail indiscriminate use of cochlear implants.

(2.) The issue relates to failure of cochlear implant.

(3.) The Complainant is a Lower Division Clerk in the Naval based at Kochi of Kerala State. The Complainant was deaf from his childhood and at the age of 8 years undergone left ear surgery. It was alleged that at the age of 15 years, on 23/9/2002 he approached OP-2 at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal (OP-1) for cochlear implantation surgery. It was alleged that based on earlier report (four years back) issued by Dr. Mohan Kameswaran, of Madras, OP-2 without doing any pre-operative tests, on 25/1/2003 performed the Cochlear implantation (Clarion platinum series Sl.No.62464) in the right ear. After the surgery for short period (3 months) his hearing was improved to some extent. Thereafter, he developed ear discharge and right facial palsy. Gradually, he developed hearing loss in Rt.ear and later on the implant was removed.