Court awards damages to former athlete who became paralysed following surgery

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang High Court today awarded damages of RM639,818.75 to a former national athlete who became paralysed following a failed spinal surgery ten years ago.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azmi Ariffin in his hour-long judgement, ordered the orthopaedic specialist Dr. Omar Md Isa and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to pay the athlete Norazleen Mohammed Mustaffa, 26, general and special damages.
Nor Azleen, a former 100m sprinter, had sued Dr Omar of the Universiti Malaya Medical Faculty Orthopaedic Department and UMMC after she was left partially paralysed from a spinal surgery on Sept 3, 2005.
She had taken legal action on the two parties after suffering nerve damage, which caused her to be paralysed from the waist down, for which she had to undergo prolonged physiotherapy.
Nor Azleen had sought RM3 million in damages, interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
The High Court had dismissed her suit on Nov 9, 2012, but a three-member Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus allowed her appeal against the decision.
Nor Azleen was represented by counsel Dr N. Ahilan, while Dr Omar and UMMC was represented by N. Shamini.