In 1968, like most newborn, Low Chee Min was given several vaccinations when he was born at the University Hospital in Taman Paramount.
Two days after receiving the shots, suffering from high fever, he was rushed back to hospital and given a blood transfusion.
During the blood transfusion, he stopped breathing for a few seconds but was revived.
As years passed things seemed well again, but his parents began to notice something wrong with Low as he grew older.
Subsequent medical checks revealed that he suffered from severe brain damage that affected his central nerves.
Today, Low, 47, is wheelchair-bound, unable to walk or speak or express himself.
With the help of Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San, his elderly parents now seek an ex gratia payment from the government to help relieve their financial burdens in caring for their severely disabled son.
"The parents seek government assistance since they have grown old and don't have a stable income to support Chee Min's monthly expenses," said Lau at a press conference today.
The Kampung Tunku assemblyperson said so far he had managed to get a RM300 monthly assistance from the Welfare Department for the parents, as well as a RM1,000 grant from his own allocation.
Thrown from one ministry to another
Low's mother, Chuan Ngan Cheng, alleged that the smallpox vaccine her son was given after he was born was the cause of the high fever that had led to further complications.
She claimed that newborn infants would not have developed a sufficient immune system against the smallpox vaccine.
In view of this, Lau has also written to the Health Ministry requesting for an ex gratia payment for Low's parents.
However, the Health Ministry claimed that since Low was born and treated in a university hospital, it was under the Education Ministry's jurisdiction instead.
When Lau wrote to the Education Ministry, he was then told that the ministry and the hospital was not liable as the limitation period for medical negligence had already been exceeded.
He is now calling for the relevant ministries and authorities to review their decision against the ex gratia payment.
"An ex gratia payment is not a compensation but a compassionate payment to relieve the financial burdens of the family members.
"They know they don't have any legal grounds asking for legal remedies, but they wish that something can be done by the authority," he said.
It is unfortunate that Low's parents did not act fast enough before the limitation period for medical negligence was exceeded, he admitted, but Lau explained that Chuan and her husband did not realise anything was wrong with their son until it was too late.
Lau is also now appealing to the public for any financial, medical or legal help for Low and his parents who are already in their 70s. -Mkini
Two days after receiving the shots, suffering from high fever, he was rushed back to hospital and given a blood transfusion.
During the blood transfusion, he stopped breathing for a few seconds but was revived.
As years passed things seemed well again, but his parents began to notice something wrong with Low as he grew older.Subsequent medical checks revealed that he suffered from severe brain damage that affected his central nerves.
Today, Low, 47, is wheelchair-bound, unable to walk or speak or express himself.
With the help of Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San, his elderly parents now seek an ex gratia payment from the government to help relieve their financial burdens in caring for their severely disabled son.
"The parents seek government assistance since they have grown old and don't have a stable income to support Chee Min's monthly expenses," said Lau at a press conference today.
The Kampung Tunku assemblyperson said so far he had managed to get a RM300 monthly assistance from the Welfare Department for the parents, as well as a RM1,000 grant from his own allocation.
Thrown from one ministry to another
Low's mother, Chuan Ngan Cheng, alleged that the smallpox vaccine her son was given after he was born was the cause of the high fever that had led to further complications.
She claimed that newborn infants would not have developed a sufficient immune system against the smallpox vaccine.
In view of this, Lau has also written to the Health Ministry requesting for an ex gratia payment for Low's parents.
However, the Health Ministry claimed that since Low was born and treated in a university hospital, it was under the Education Ministry's jurisdiction instead.
When Lau wrote to the Education Ministry, he was then told that the ministry and the hospital was not liable as the limitation period for medical negligence had already been exceeded.
He is now calling for the relevant ministries and authorities to review their decision against the ex gratia payment.
"An ex gratia payment is not a compensation but a compassionate payment to relieve the financial burdens of the family members.
"They know they don't have any legal grounds asking for legal remedies, but they wish that something can be done by the authority," he said.
It is unfortunate that Low's parents did not act fast enough before the limitation period for medical negligence was exceeded, he admitted, but Lau explained that Chuan and her husband did not realise anything was wrong with their son until it was too late.
Lau is also now appealing to the public for any financial, medical or legal help for Low and his parents who are already in their 70s. -Mkini
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