Hyderabad Hospital Ordered to Compensate for Medical Negligence
Commission Ruling and Compensation Details
The Rangareddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has mandated a private hospital in Hyderabad to pay Rs 15 lakh in compensation due to medical negligence. Alongside this compensation, the Commission has instructed the hospital to refund Rs 2.28 lakh with an interest rate of nine percent, in addition to Rs 30,000 designated for litigation expenses.
Background of the Case
This case originates from 2024 when a patient was admitted to a hospital in Banjara Hills, presenting symptoms of weakness. Initial evaluations and tests indicated low hemoglobin levels, leading the medical team to recommend blood transfusions as part of the treatment strategy. Over two days, the patient received multiple blood transfusions.
Concerns Raised by the Patient’s Family
According to a report by Siasat, the patient’s family expressed concerns regarding inconsistencies in the medical records. They noted that while two units of blood were said to be transfused, the discharge summary indicated only one unit. Furthermore, the family criticized the hospital for failing to manage the patient’s diarrhea during the stay.
Critical Health Deterioration
Four days post-admission, the patient suffered a heart attack. The family claimed there was a delay in starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mentioned that the patient was only moved to the intensive care unit after his condition worsened. They also alleged that the patient was misdiagnosed with a liver infection, leading to an additional demand of Rs 1.5 lakh for further treatment.
Outcome and Subsequent Events
Despite being transferred to another hospital and then to an additional private healthcare facility, the patient’s condition continued to decline, resulting in his death on August 16, 2024.
Hospital’s Defense
In response to the allegations, the hospital denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the patient had a history of alcoholism accompanied by underlying liver disease. They contended that CPR was administered promptly after his transfer to the ICU and that adequate care was provided throughout his treatment.
Commission’s Final Decision
Following a thorough review of the medical records and testimonies from both parties, the Rangareddy District Consumer Disputes Commission ruled in favor of the deceased’s family. The hospital is now required to pay the specified compensation and refund the treatment costs, along with the specified interest and litigation fees.
Related News
In a related report, Siasat Daily highlighted that medical negligence has claimed 12 lives in Rajasthan over the past two years, as conveyed to the Assembly by the state government.