N.A (mu izina ry’ umwana we I.A) v KIBUNGO MEDICAL CENTER

N.A (mu izina ry’ umwana we I.A) v KIBUNGO MEDICAL CENTER

Damages for medical malpractice resulting in permanent bodily injury must be assessed by the court in its discretion (ex aequo et bono), not by reference to the Presidential Decree on motor vehicle accidents, as there is no statutory scale for such injuries in Rwanda. The High Court erred by reducing damages based...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RLR V. 1-2024
Parties
Applicant: N.A (mu izina ry’umwana we I.A); Respondent: Kibungo Medical Center; Intervener/insurer: Prime Insurance Company Plc
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
25 June 2021
Case Number
RCAA 00008/2020/CA
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal (medical Malpractice) / Final Appellate Judgment (court of Appeal)
Outcome
appeal allowed; High Court decision reversed; Intermediate Court judgment reinstated
Legal Topics
Vicarious Liability, Assessment of Damages, Medical Negligence, Compensation for Bodily Injury, Insurance Coverage Limits
Source Language
rw
Tort Law Medical Malpractice Insurance Law Vicarious Liability Assessment of Damages Medical Negligence Compensation for Bodily Injury Insurance Coverage Limits

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Parties

N.A (mu izina ry’umwana we I.A)

Applicant

Kibungo Medical Center

Respondent

Prime Insurance Company Plc

Intervener/insurer

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal (medical Malpractice) / Final Appellate Judgment (court of Appeal)

  1. 1 Whether damages for medical malpractice should be assessed using the Presidential Decree on motor vehicle accidents or judicial discretion (ex aequo et bono)
  2. 2 Whether the lower court erred in reducing damages based on an inapplicable statute
  3. 3 Extent of insurer's liability under the insurance contract

Ratio Decidendi

Damages for medical malpractice resulting in permanent bodily injury must be assessed by the court in its discretion (ex aequo et bono), not by reference to the Presidential Decree on motor vehicle accidents, as there is no statutory scale for such injuries in Rwanda. The High Court erred by reducing damages based on an inapplicable statute. The original damages awarded by the Intermediate Court are reinstated, with the insurer's liability limited to the contractual amount.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed; High Court decision reversed; Intermediate Court judgment reinstated

Orders

  • Kibungo Medical Center to pay N.A (for I.A) damages of 35,000,000 Frw, with Prime Insurance Company Plc liable for 2,000,000 Frw as per insurance contract
  • Kibungo Medical Center to pay 800,000 Frw for legal fees and 300,000 Frw for case follow-up costs