The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) in Mohali has awarded a man whose elderly mother suffered from medical negligence at Max Super Speciality Hospital in 2020, an amount of Rs 8 lakh in compensation. Following the complainant’s appeal against the District Commission’s initial Rs 5 lakh compensation award, this ruling was made.The complainant’s mother fell in 2020, breaking her femur in her right leg. This is when the event began. For treatment, she was brought to the hospital. But the senior specialist was out of the office, so another physician took over her care. This physician determined that surgery was required, and scheduling it would take about six days.
The plaintiff filed a complaint alleging that another doctor placed 4 kg of water weight in the patient’s right leg to immobilize it after the attending physician failed to appear after the patient was admitted. The complainant claimed that the specialized doctor disregarded his obligations to provide diagnosis, counsel, and treatment, instead giving his job to a junior. The complaint characterized this behavior as professional misconduct.
The hospital’s decision to send the patient’s COVID-19 sample to Max Hospital in Delhi rather than the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh exacerbated the problem. The patient and her family experienced severe grief upon learning that the patient tested positive for COVID-19, according to the report from Delhi. A second sample was then sent to PGI, Chandigarh, revealing that the patient was in fact COVID-19 negative.
The plaintiff made numerous requests, however the patient was never moved to PGI, Chandigarh. The complainant was instead asked to leave the private space. The family received the PGI report on May 29, 2020, which verified their COVID-19 negative status. The complaint stated that the patient and family suffered needless trauma and were even placed in an unlawful detention as a result of the hospital’s inaccurate COVID-19 report.
The plaintiff made the decision to have his mother released from the hospital after this incident. On May 31, 2020, they took her home after paying all of her bills. Regretfully, the patient’s health declined quickly, and on June 3, 2020, she passed away. The complaint stated that she died as a result of taking a lot of medication while in the hospital. He mentioned that she merely had a broken leg and had no fever, cough, or cold prior to being sent to the hospital on May 27, 2020.
All claims of unfair practices, subpar care, or medical malpractice were denied by the hospital and the physician. They insisted that they followed accepted procedures and gave suitable care.At first, the District Commission mandated that the hospital and the head of the department of microbiology pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh. The complainant, however, was not happy with this ruling and went to the State Commission to request a larger settlement sum. After reviewing the case, the SCDRC enhanced the compensation to Rs 8 lakh, acknowledging that the hospital’s conduct had caused further pain and distress.This story emphasizes how crucial it is to have prompt, precise medical diagnosis and treatment, particularly in the event of a pandemic. It emphasizes the potential repercussions of medical carelessness as well as the duty of healthcare practitioners to guarantee appropriate patient care.
SOURCE:
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
