Man loses leg after treatment in private clinic

Dubai: A 26-year-old Indian man has lost his leg after visiting a private clinic in Dubai for treatment of minor injuries he sustained during a fall in the bathroom.

Currently being treated at Rashid Hospital, Binumon Moni Moni, a plumber who hails from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, said he slipped in the bathroom at his labour camp in Sonapur in June and suffered minor abrasions on his left ankle.

Unable to visit the designated clinic as it was a weekend, he said he went to a local private clinic near the camp.

"An X-ray was taken after which the doctor applied a liquid on my ankle, wrapped it in crepe bandage and prescribed some medicines. I was also advised to take rest for two days," said Moni, without revealing the name of the clinic.

Rushed to hospital

Within two days, however, Moni said his left leg became swollen and he could barely walk. He said he visited the designated clinic this time but was asked to rush to Rashid Hospital as he had developed severe infection.

Dr Saeed Mustafa, Special Registrar (Trauma) at Rashid Hospital, said Moni came in with necrosis, a potentially fatal condition where cells and living tissue become prematurely dead due to infection and toxins.

He said Moni had also developed cellulitis, an acute inflammation of the skin. "With the infection in his legs threatening to spread to his kidney and liver, his condition was critical," said Dr Mustafa, adding that he was put on the ventilator and had to be operated upon. He said despite multiple debridement or cleaning of the wounds, Moni's condition did not improve and the hospital was forced to amputate his left leg to save his life.

Moni's left leg has now been amputated above the knee but his condition is stable, said Dr Mustafa.

For Moni though, it is bound to be a long and painful road ahead. Due to be discharged next week, he is unsure of what the future holds for him. Although single, he said he was a key earning member for his family back home.

"I used to earn around Dh650 a month, with an additional Dh300-Dh400 as overtime," he said, adding that he was in no position to go back to work now. The high cost of treatment is also weighing on him.

Not sure whether the company he worked for would help him, he said prosthetics alone would cost over Dh35,000 in the UAE.

"I will be going back to India," he said. "I want to take legal action against the clinic that initially treated my leg, but I do not know how," he added.

Those who wish to help Moni can write to editor@alnisrmedia.com