Prince Court Medical Centre Sdn Bhd v Lim Yoke Har (suing through his son and litigation representative, Goh Seng Cha) & Ors and another suit [2024] MLJU 2699
Summary
In August 2024, the estate of Mdm Lim Yoke Har (deceased) was awarded RM4.2 million in damages after a fall at Prince Court caused her severe brain damage. The High Court found that the fall resulted from a mechanical failure on the cot side of her hospital bed. The award included RM1 million in aggravated damages, the highest amount in a medical negligence case since 2010.
After the incident, Mdm Lim suffered from severe cognitive & physical impairments, including an inability to speak, recognize anyone, or breathe independently.
The High Court awarded aggravated damages due to Prince Court’s actions: falsely blaming Mdm Lim for not reporting her fall, withholding critical evidence, and failing to report the fall to the Ministry of Health. The hospital also delayed replacing faulty beds, only acting after Lim’s fall, which led to her severe injuries. The hospital’s misconduct during court proceedings and failure to disclose incident reports worsened the situation, adding unnecessary stress on the family and medical professionals.
Compensation Received:
RM4.2 million:-
- Aggravated Damages: RM1 million
- Costs: RM332,249
- General Damages: RM500,000
- Future General Damages: RM675,600
- Special Damages: RM540,785.17
- Pre-Trial Damages: RM1.1 million